Production of closed linear dna using a palindromic sequence

ABSTRACT

A primer for the amplification of a DNA template comprising a protelomerase target sequence, particularly for production of closed linear DNA, which primer is capable of specifically binding to a palindromic sequence within a protelomerase target sequence and priming amplification in both directions.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a palindromic primer for the amplification of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) template containing a protelomerase target sequence.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditional cell-based processes for amplification of DNA in large quantities are costly. For example, use of bacteria requires their growth in large volumes in expensive fermenters that are required to be maintained in a sterile state in order to prevent contamination of the culture. The bacteria also need to be lysed to release the amplified DNA and the DNA needs to be cleaned and purified from other bacterial components. In particular, where DNA vaccines or other therapeutic DNA agents are produced, high purity is required to eliminate the presence of endotoxins which are toxic to mammals.

In addition to the issues of cost, use of bacteria can in many cases present difficulties for fidelity of the amplification process. In the complex biochemical environment of the bacterial cell, it is difficult to control the quality and yields of the desired DNA product. The bacteria may occasionally alter the required gene cloned within the amplified DNA and render it useless for the required purpose. Recombination events may also lead to problems in faithful production of a DNA of interest. Cell-free enzymatic processes for amplification of DNA avoid the requirement for use of a host cell, and so are advantageous.

For example, the manufacture of medicinal DNA cassettes relies almost exclusively on their insertion into bacterial plasmids and their amplification in bacterial fermentation processes.

This current state of the art process limits opportunities for improving the manufacture of such DNA medicines in a number of ways. In addition, the plasmid product is essentially a crude DNA molecule in that it contains nucleotide sequences not required for its medicinal function. Accordingly, in the field of production of DNA products, such as DNA medicines, there is a need to provide improved methods for amplification of DNA in large quantities. In particular, there is a need to provide improved methods for amplification of specific forms of DNA, such as closed linear DNAs. Closed linear DNA molecules have particular utility for therapeutic applications, as they have improved stability and safety over other forms of DNA.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of at least a single species of primer for the amplification of a DNA template. The primer may be used for production of a linear covalently closed DNA (closed linear DNA). The template DNA comprises at least one protelomerase target sequence. The primer of the invention binds specifically to a palindromic sequence within the at least one protelomerase target sequence and is capable of priming amplification in both directions. Thus only a single species of primer is required for the priming of each template. In addition, benefits are obtained compared to other forms of primer in terms of homogeneity of the amplified DNA products.

Accordingly, the present invention provides:

A primer capable of binding specifically to a palindromic sequence within a protelomerase target sequence and priming amplification in both directions.

An in vitro cell-free process for production of a closed linear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) comprising:

(a) contacting a DNA template comprising at least one protelomerase target sequence with at least one DNA polymerase in the presence of at least one species of primer under conditions promoting amplification of said template, wherein the at least one species of primer is capable of binding specifically to a palindromic sequence within the at least one protelomerase target sequence and is capable of priming amplification in both directions; and

(b) contacting amplified DNA produced in (a) with at least one protelomerase under conditions promoting production of closed linear DNA.

An in vitro cell-free process for amplification of deoxyribonucleic

acid (DNA) comprising:

contacting a DNA template comprising at least one protelomerase target sequence with at least one DNA polymerase in the presence of at least one species of primer, under conditions promoting amplification of said template by displacement of replicated strands through strand displacement replication of another strand, wherein the at least one species of primer is capable of binding specifically to a palindromic sequence within the at least one protelomerase target sequence and is capable of priming amplification in both directions.

The invention further relates to kits providing components necessary in the process of the invention. Thus, the invention provides a kit comprising at least one species of primer according to the invention and at least one DNA polymerase. The kit may further comprise at least one protelomerase and optionally instructions for use in a process for amplification of closed linear DNA of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1: Replication of linear covalently closed DNA in bacteriophages and the role of protelomerase. A. Depiction of extrachromosomal bacteriophage linear covalently closed DNA. *=Centre of palindromic sequence of telomere. The R sequence is an inverted palindromic repeat of the L sequence. B. Replication of bacteriophage DNA in host: Bubble indicates DNA strand replication. Synthesis of the complementary strand to R and L leads to identical double stranded RL sequences. C. Products formed by action of protelomerase. Protelomerase binds to the RL sequence and cuts and ligates the opposite strands at the centre point of the palindromic sequence to reform the telomeres and complete the replication of the original linear covalently closed DNA.

FIG. 2: The action of Escherichia coli phage N15 protelomerase (TelN) on circular double stranded DNA containing its target site, telRL. TelRL is an inverted palindrome with 28 bp right (telR) and left (telL) arms indicated by the arrows. The sequences underlined indicate imperfections in the telRL palindrome. A central 22 bp perfect inverted palindrome TelO is required for the binding of the enzyme, TelN. TelN cleaves this 22 bp sequence at its mid-point and joins the ends of the complementary strands to form covalently closed ends.

FIG. 3: Comparison of protelomerase target sequences in found in various organisms. The boxed sequences show the extent of perfect or imperfect palindromic sequence. Underlining shows imperfections in the palindrome. The base pair sequences highlighted are common to all protelomerase target sequences indicating their importance to protelomerase binding and action. A. Escherichia coli phage N15. B. Klebsiella phage Phi KO2. C. Yersinia phage Py54. D. Halomonas phage Phi HAP. E. Vibrio phage VP882. F. Borrelia burgdorferi plasmid lpB31.16. The boxed sequences show the extent of perfect or imperfect palindromic sequence for each bacteriophage. G. The consensus inverse palindromic sequence for bacteriophage protelomerase binding and action is shown. This is a 22 base pair perfect inverted repeat sequence (11 base pairs either side of the cut site). The consensus sequence is derived from the conserved highlighted residues shown for A-E. Conserved base pairs and their positions in the palindrome are indicated. Dashes indicate flexibility in sequence composition i.e. where bases may be N (A, T, C or G).

FIG. 4: Amplification of closed linear DNA template containing telomeric ends formed from the palindromic binding sequence for protelomerase TelN. Example of a single specific palindromic primer that can bind to the telomeric ends to initiate DNA amplification by DNA polymerase.

FIG. 5: Amplification of circular double stranded DNA template containing an inverted palindromic binding sequence for protelomerase TelN (telRL). Example of a single palindromic primer that can specifically bind to the two complementary DNA strands at the telRL site to initiate DNA amplification.

FIG. 6: Specific process for in vitro manufacture of closed linear DNA using a single specific palindomic primer, and an RCA strand displacement DNA polymerase in combination with TelN protelomerase.

A. Closed linear DNA template. B. Circular double stranded DNA template. R and L represent the DNA sequences of the right and left arms of the TelN protelomerase binding sequence. C. Denaturation of starting template to form circular single stranded DNA. D. Binding of single specific primer. E-F. Rolling circle amplification from single stranded DNA template by an RCA strand displacement DNA polymerase. G. Formation of long concatameric double stranded DNA comprising single units of amplified template separated by protelomerase binding sequences (RL). H. Contacting with TelN protelomerase specific to RL sequence. Protelomerase cleaves concatameric DNA at RL site and ligates complementary strands to produce amplified copies of the linear covalently closed DNA template.

FIG. 7. A. Rate of concatameric DNA production at 30° C. by phi29 DNA polymerase from a 4.3 kb double stranded circular template using random hexamers and single specific primer sequences SEQ IDs 32, 33, 34 and 35. Amplified concatameric DNA quantified using PicoGreen assay (Invitrogen). x-axis: time (hours); y-axis: DNA concentration in μg/ml.

Initial rates of DNA synthesis:

 Random hexamer primers (88 μg/ml/hr)

▪ SEQ ID NO 32 (25 μg/ml/hr)

▴ SEQ ID NO 33 (10 μg/ml/hr)

▾ SEQ ID NO 34 (17.5 μg/ml/hr)

♦ SEQ ID NO 35 (11 μg/ml/hr)

B. Rate of concatameric DNA production by phi29 DNA polymerase at 34° C. from a 4.3 kb double stranded circular template using random hexamers and single specific primer sequences SEQ IDs 32 and 33. Amplified concatameric DNA quantified using PicoGreen assay (Invitrogen). x-axis: time (hours); y-axis: DNA concentration in μg/ml.

Initial rates of DNA synthesis:

 Random hexamer primers (32.5 μg/ml/hr)

▪ SEQ ID NO 32 (15 μg/ml/hr)

▴ SEQ ID NO 33 (5.2 μg/ml/hr)

FIG. 8. A: Comparison between single oligonucleotide primers and random hexamers in rolling circle amplification of DNA at 30° C. Electrophoresis gel of HindIII digested concatameric DNA product. Lanes 1-5 depict HindIII digested products after 1 hr of template DNA amplification, lanes 6-10 after 2 hrs of amplification, lanes 11-15 after 4 hrs of amplification and lanes 16-20 after 6 hrs of amplification. The DNA amplification reactions were primed as follows: lanes 1, 6, 11, 16 (random hexamers), lanes 2, 7, 12, 17 (SEQ ID 32 (11mer) primer), lanes 3, 8, 13, 18 (SEQ ID 33 (11mer) primer, lanes 4, 9, 14, 19 (SEQ ID 34 (15mer) primer) and lanes 5, 10, 15, 20 (SEQ ID 35 (15mer) primer).

Separated samples were derived from the digestion of 250 ng concatameric DNA except lane 2 (125 ng), lane 3 (48 ng), lane 4 (90 ng), lane 5 (70 ng), lane 8 (100 ng), lane 9 (200 ng) and lane 10 (131 ng). The 4.3 kb specific product band is clearly seen in each lane indicated by the arrow.

B. Comparison between single oligonucleotide primers and random hexamers in rolling circle amplification of DNA at 34° C. Electrophoresis gel of HindIII digested concatameric DNA product. Lanes 1 to 3 depict Hind III digested products after 1 hr of template DNA amplification, lanes 4 to 6 after 2 hrs of amplification, lanes 7 to 9 after 4 hrs of amplification and lanes 10 to 12 after 6 hrs of amplification and lanes 13 to 15 after 9 hours of amplification. The DNA amplification reactions were primed as follows: lanes 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 (random hexamers), lanes 2, 5, 8, 11, 14 (SEQ ID 32 (1mer) primer), lanes 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 (SEQ ID 33 (11mer) primer). Separated samples were derived from the digestion of 250 ng concatameric DNA except lane 1 (5 ng), lane 3 (63 ng) and lane 6 (106 ng). The 4.3 kb specific product band is clearly seen in each lane indicated by the arrow.

C. Comparison between single oligonucleotide primers and random hexamers in rolling circle amplification of DNA at 34° C. Electrophoresis gel of protelomerase TelN digested concatameric DNA product. Lanes 1 to 3 depict TelN digested products after 1 hr of template DNA amplification, lanes 4 to 6 after 2 hrs of amplification, lanes 7 to 9 after 4 hrs of amplification and lanes 10 to 12 after 6 hrs of amplification and lanes 13 to 15 after 9 hours of amplification. The DNA amplification reactions were primed as follows: lanes 1, 4, 7, 10, 13 (random hexamers), lanes 2, 5, 8, 11, 14 (SEQ ID 32 (11mer) primer), lanes 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 (SEQ ID 33 (11mer) primer). Separated samples were derived from the digestion of 250 ng concatameric DNA except lane 1 (5 ng), lane 3 (63 ng) and lane 6 (106 ng). The 4.3 kb specific product band (in this case closed linear DNA) is clearly seen in each lane indicated by the arrow.

FIG. 9. Densitometry traces for endonuclease-digested amplification products. Arrows indicate the 4.3 kb specific product. A. Densitometry traces of lanes 11 to 15, top to bottom panels in FIG. 8A. B. Densitometry traces of lanes 10 to 12, top to bottom panels in FIG. 8B.

DESCRIPTION OF SEQUENCES

SEQ ID NO: 1 is the nucleic acid sequence of a Bacillus bacteriophage phi29 DNA polymerase.

SEQ ID NO: 2 is the amino acid sequence of a Bacillus bacteriophage phi29 DNA polymerase encoded by SEQ ID NO: 1.

SEQ ID NO: 3 is the amino acid sequence of a Pyrococcus sp Deep Vent DNA polymerase.

SEQ ID NO: 4 is the nucleic acid sequence of Bacillus stearothermophilus DNA polymerase I.

SEQ ID NO: 5 is the amino acid sequence of Bacillus stearothermophilus DNA polymerase I encoded by SEQ ID NO: 4.

SEQ ID NO: 6 is the nucleic acid sequence of a Halomonas phage phiHAP-1 protelomerase nucleic acid sequence.

SEQ ID NO: 7 is the amino acid sequence of a Halomonas phage phiHAP-1 protelomerase encoded by SEQ ID NO: 6.

SEQ ID NO: 8 is the nucleic acid sequence of a Yersinia phage PY54 protelomerase.

SEQ ID NO: 9 is the amino acid sequence of a Yersinia phage PY54 protelomerase encoded by SEQ ID NO: 8.

SEQ ID NO: 10 is the nucleic acid sequence of a Klebsiella phage phiKO2 protelomerase.

SEQ ID NO: 11 is the amino acid sequence of a Klebsiella phage phiKO2 protelomerase encoded by SEQ ID NO: 10.

SEQ ID NO: 12 is the nucleic acid sequence of a Vibrio phage VP882 protelomerase.

SEQ ID NO: 13 is the amino acid sequence of a Vibrio phage VP882 protelomerase encoded by SEQ ID NO: 12.

SEQ ID NO: 14 is the nucleic acid sequence of an Escherichia coli bacteriophage N15 protelomerase (telN) and secondary immunity repressor (cA) nucleic acid sequence.

SEQ ID NO: 15 is the amino acid sequence of an Escherichia coli bacteriophage N15 protelomerase (telN) encoded by SEQ ID NO: 14

SEQ ID NO: 16 is a consensus nucleic acid sequence for a perfect inverted repeat present in bacteriophage protelomerase target sequences.

SEQ ID NO: 17 is a 22 base perfect inverted repeat nucleic acid sequence from E. coli phage N15 and Klebsiella phage phiKO2.

SEQ ID NO: 18 is a 22 base perfect inverted repeat nucleic acid sequence from Yersinia phage PY54.

SEQ ID NO: 19 is a 22 base perfect inverted repeat nucleic acid sequence from Halomonas phage phiHAP-1.

SEQ ID NO: 20 is a 22 base perfect inverted repeat nucleic acid sequence from Vibrio phage VP882.

SEQ ID NO: 21 is a 14 base perfect inverted repeat nucleic acid sequence from Borrelia burgdorferi plasmid lpB31.16.

SEQ ID NO: 22 is a 24 base perfect inverted repeat nucleic acid sequence from Vibrio phage VP882.

SEQ ID NO: 23 is a 42 base perfect inverted repeat nucleic acid sequence from Yersinia phage PY54.

SEQ ID NO: 24 is a 90 base perfect inverted repeat nucleic acid sequence from Halomonas phage phiHAP-1.

SEQ ID NO: 25 is a nucleic acid sequence from E. coli phage N15 comprising a protelomerase target sequence.

SEQ ID NO: 26 is a nucleic acid sequence from Klebsiella phage phiKO2 comprising a protelomerase target sequence.

SEQ ID NO: 27 is a nucleic acid sequence from Yersinia phage PY54 comprising a protelomerase target sequence.

SEQ ID NO: 28 is a nucleic acid sequence from Vibrio phage VP882 comprising a protelomerase target sequence.

SEQ ID NO: 29 is a nucleic acid sequence from Borrelia burgdorferi plasmid lpB31.16 comprising a protelomerase target sequence.

SEQ ID NO: 30 is an example of a primer according to the invention suitable for binding to the protelomerase target sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25.

SEQ ID NO: 31 is an example of a primer according to the invention suitable for binding to the protelomerase target sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25.

SEQ ID NO: 32 is an example of a primer according to the invention suitable for binding to the protelomerase target sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25 or SEQ ID NO: 26.

SEQ ID NO: 33 is an example of a primer according to the invention suitable for binding to the protelomerase target sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25 or SEQ ID NO: 26.

SEQ ID NO: 34 is an example of a primer according to the invention suitable for binding to the protelomerase target sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25.

SEQ ID NO: 35 is an example of a primer according to the invention suitable for binding to the protelomerase target sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25.

SEQ ID NO: 36 is an example of a primer according to the invention suitable for binding to the protelomerase target sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27.

SEQ ID NO: 37 is an example of a primer according to the invention suitable for binding to the protelomerase target sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27.

SEQ ID NO: 38 is an example of a primer according to the invention suitable for binding to the protelomerase target sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28.

SEQ ID NO: 39 is an example of a primer according to the invention suitable for binding to the protelomerase target sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28.

SEQ ID NO: 40 is an example of a primer according to the invention suitable for binding to the protelomerase target sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29.

SEQ ID NO: 41 is an example of a primer according to the invention suitable for binding to the protelomerase target sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to primers for the amplification of DNA templates comprising protelomerase target sequences, typically for production of closed linear DNA molecules, processes using said primers and kits comprising said primers.

Closed linear DNA molecules typically comprise covalently closed ends also described as hairpin loops, where base-pairing between complementary DNA strands is not present. The hairpin loops join the ends of complementary DNA strands. Structures of this type typically form at the telomeric ends of chromosomes in order to protect against loss or damage of chromosomal DNA by sequestering the terminal nucleotides in a closed structure. In examples of closed linear DNA molecules described herein, hairpin loops flank complementary base-paired DNA strands, forming a “doggy-bone” shaped structure (as shown in FIG. 1).

A primer of the invention is capable of specifically binding to a palindromic sequence within a protelomerase target sequence comprised within a DNA template. The primer is capable of priming amplification in both directions and so only one species of primer molecule is required per template. Previous methods of producing closed linear DNA have relied upon multiple random primers. Although this provides multiple independent priming events and thus a high level of amplification, the primers may bind within coding sequences, and thus fail to fully amplify such a sequence. The specific binding of a primer of the present invention to the protelomerase target sequence ensures a higher number of complete copies of the template.

Using the primers of the invention thus advantageously allows for the provision of a more homogenous population of amplified copies of product DNA, as is shown by the comparative data with random primers obtained by the present inventors.

Typically, a primer of the invention binds or specifically binds to only one half of a given palindromic sequence, to minimise the occurrence of intra and inter primer binding. Primer lengths may vary from, for example of 12, 15, 18, 20, 30 or 50 nucleotides in length. A primer may be of 6 to 50, 12 to 50, 18 to 50, 25 to 50 or 35 to 50 nucleotides in length covering the whole or part of one half of a palindromic sequence. The length of the primer may be extended to complement additional palindromic sequences introduced beyond existing palindromic sequences in a given template to improve binding and function of the protelomerase enzyme. A primer may be unlabelled, or may comprise one or more labels, for example radionuclides or fluorescent dyes. A primer may also comprise chemically modified nucleotides, typically such that the primer has improved resistance to hydrolysis. For example the primer may preferably comprise one or more phosphorothioate linkages.

Routine methods of primer design and manufacture may be applied to the production of a primer capable of specifically binding to any identified protelomerase target sequence. Primer lengths/sequences may typically be selected based on temperature considerations such as being able to bind to the template at the temperature used in the amplification step.

Optimally, a primer of the invention binds efficiently to the DNA template following its denaturation to separate the conplementary sequences. Denaturation in standard amplification methods typically involves a high temperature “melting” step. Thus a primer can be defined by its melting temperature, or Tm, which is the temperature at which a double-stranded nucleotide separates into single strands.

A process of the present invention utilises the above primer to amplify the sequence of a template comprising a protelomerase target sequence. The process may comprise a single step of amplifying the template DNA under conditions promoting amplification of said template by displacement of replicated strands through strand displacement replication of another strand. This advantageously addresses problems associated with diverse heterogeneity of amplified product DNA in strand-displacement amplification reactions carried out with random primers.

A preferred process of the present invention provides for high throughput production of closed linear DNA molecules by utilising a primer of the invention in a process incorporating a step of DNA amplification and a further step converting amplified DNA into closed linear DNA.

A process of the present invention is carried out in an in vitro cell-free environment, and as such is not limited to use of DNA templates having extraneous sequences necessary for bacterial propagation. As outlined below, a process of the invention can therefore be used to produce closed linear DNA molecules which lack problematic vector sequences and are particularly suitable for therapeutic uses.

Closed DNA molecules have particular utility as therapeutic agents i.e. DNA medicines which can be used to express a gene product in vivo. This is because their covalently closed structure prevents attack by enzymes such as exonucleases, leading to enhanced stability and longevity of gene expression as compared to “open” DNA molecules with exposed DNA ends. Linear double stranded open-ended cassettes have been demonstrated to be inefficient with respect to gene expression when introduced into host tissue. This has been attributed to cassette instability due to the action of exonucleases in the extracellular space.

Sequestering DNA ends inside covalently closed structures also has other advantages. The DNA ends are prevented from integrating with genomic DNA and so closed linear DNA molecules are of improved safety. Also, the closed linear structure prevents concatamerisation of DNA molecules inside host cells and thus expression levels of the gene product can be regulated in a more sensitive manner. The present invention provides an in vitro cell-free process for production of closed linear DNA molecules that comprises template-directed DNA amplification, and specific processing of amplified DNA by protelomerase.

Typically, a process of the invention may be used for production of DNA for in vitro expression in a host cell, particularly in DNA vaccines. DNA vaccines typically encode a modified form of an infectious organism's DNA. DNA vaccines are administered to a subject where they then express the selected protein of the infectious organism, initiating an immune response against that protein which is typically protective. DNA vaccines may also encode a tumour antigen in a cancer immunotherapy approach.

A DNA vaccine may comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding an antigen for the treatment or prevention of a number of conditions including but not limited to cancer, allergies, toxicity and infection by a pathogen such as, but not limited to, fungi, viruses including Human Papilloma Viruses (HPV), HIV, HSV2/HSV1, Influenza virus (types A, B and C), Polio virus, RSV virus, Rhinoviruses, Rotaviruses, Hepatitis A virus, Norwalk Virus Group, Enteroviruses, Astroviruses, Measles virus, Parainfluenza virus, Mumps virus, Varicella-Zoster virus, Cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, Adenoviruses, Rubella virus, Human T-cell Lymphoma type I virus (HTLV-I), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Hepatitis D virus, Pox virus, Marburg and Ebola; bacteria including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Chlamydia, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Shigella, Salmonella, Vibrio cholerae, Treponema pallidum, Pseudomonas, Bordetella pertussis, Brucella, Franciscella tularensis, Helicobacter pylori, Leptospira interrogans, Legionella pneumophila, Yersinia pestis, Streptococcus (types A and B), Pneumococcus, Meningococcus, Haemophilus influenza (type b), Toxoplasma gondii, Campylobacteriosis, Moraxella catarrhalis, Donovanosis, and Actinomycosis; fungal pathogens including Candidiasis and Aspergillosis; parasitic pathogens including Taenia, Flukes, Roundworms, Amoebiasis, Giardiasis, Cryptosporidium, Schistosoma, Pneumocystis carinii, Trichomoniasis and Trichinosis.

DNA vaccines may comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding an antigen from a member of the adenoviridae (including for instance a human adenovirus), herpesviridae (including for instance HSV-1, HSV-2, EBV, CMV and VZV), papovaviridae (including for instance HPV), poxyiridae (including for instance smallpox and vaccinia), parvoviridae (including for instance parvovirus B 19), reoviridae (including for instance a rotavirus), coronaviridae (including for instance SARS), flaviviridae (including for instance yellow fever, West Nile virus, dengue, hepatitis C and tick-borne encephalitis), picornaviridae (including polio, rhinovirus, and hepatitis A), togaviridae (including for instance rubella virus), filoviridae (including for instance Marburg and Ebola), paramyxoviridae (including for instance a parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncitial virus, mumps and measles), rhabdoviridae (including for instance rabies virus), bunyaviridae (including for instance Hantaan virus), orthomyxoviridae (including for instance influenza A, B and C viruses), retroviridae (including for instance HIV and HTLV) and hepadnaviridae (including for instance hepatitis B).

The antigen may be from a pathogen responsible for a veterinary disease and in particular may be from a viral pathogen, including, for instance, a Reovirus (such as African Horse sickness or Bluetongue virus) and Herpes viruses (including equine herpes). The antigen may be one from Foot and Mouth Disease virus, Tick borne encephalitis virus, dengue virus, SARS, West Nile virus and Hantaan virus. The antigen may be from an immunodeficiency virus, and may, for example, be from SIV or a feline immunodeficiency virus.

DNA vaccines produced by a process of the invention may also comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding a tumour antigen. Examples of tumour associated antigens include, but are not limited to, cancer-testes antigens such as members of the MAGE family (MAGE 1, 2, 3 etc), NY-ESO-1 and SSX-2, differentation antigens such as tyrosinase, gp100, PSA, Her-2 and CEA, mutated self antigens and viral tumour antigens such as E6 and/or E7 from oncogenic HPV types. Further examples of particular tumour antigens include MART-1, Melan-A, p97, beta-HCG, GalNAc, MAGE-1, MAGE-2, MAGE-4, MAGE-12, MUC1, MUC2, MUC3, MUC4, MUC18, CEA, DDC, P1A, EpCam, melanoma antigen gp75, Hker 8, high molecular weight melanoma antigen, K19, Tyr1, Tyr2, members of the pMel 17 gene family, c-Met, PSM (prostate mucin antigen), PSMA (prostate specific membrane antigen), prostate secretary protein, alpha-fetoprotein, CA125, CA19.9, TAG-72, BRCA-1 and BRCA-2 antigen.

Also, a process of the invention may produce other types of therapeutic DNA molecules e.g. those used in gene therapy. For example, such DNA molecules can be used to express a functional gene where a subject has a genetic disorder caused by a dysfunctional version of that gene. Examples of such diseases include Duchenne muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, Gaucher's Disease, and adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency. Other diseases where gene therapy may be useful include inflammatory diseases, autoimmune, chronic and infectious diseases, including such disorders as AIDS, cancer, neurological diseases, cardivascular disease, hypercholestemia, various blood disorders including various anaemias, thalassemia and haemophilia, and emphysema. For the treatment of solid tumors, genes encoding toxic peptides (i.e., chemotherapeutic agents such as ricin, diptheria toxin and cobra venom factor), tumor suppressor genes such as p53, genes coding for mRNA sequences which are antisense to transforming oncogenes, antineoplastic peptides such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and other cytokines, or transdominant negative mutants of transforming oncogenes, may be expressed.

Other types of therapeutic DNA molecules are also contemplated for production by a process of the invention. For example, DNA molecules which are transcribed into an active RNA form, for example a small interfering RNA (siRNA) may be produced according to a process of the invention.

In embodiments directed to production of DNA molecules having therapeutic utility, the DNA template will typically comprise an expression cassette comprising one or more promoter or enhancer elements and a gene or other coding sequence which encodes an mRNA or protein of interest. In particular embodiments directed to generation of DNA vaccine molecules or DNA molecules for gene therapy, the DNA template comprises an expression cassette consisting of a eukaryotic promoter operably linked to a sequence encoding a protein of interest, and optionally an enhancer and/or a eukaryotic transcription termination sequence. Typically, the DNA template may be in the form of a vector commonly used to house a gene e.g. an extrachromosomal genetic element such as a plasmid.

A “promoter” is a nucleotide sequence which initiates and regulates transcription of a polynucleotide. Promoters can include inducible promoters (where expression of a polynucleotide sequence operably linked to the promoter is induced by an analyte, cofactor, regulatory protein, etc.), repressible promoters (where expression of a polynucleotide sequence operably linked to the promoter is repressed by an analyte, cofactor, regulatory protein, etc.), and constitutive promoters. It is intended that the term “promoter” or “control element” includes full-length promoter regions and functional (e.g., controls transcription or translation) segments of these regions.

“Operably linked” refers to an arrangement of elements wherein the components so described are configured so as to perform their usual function. Thus, a given promoter operably linked to a nucleic acid sequence is capable of effecting the expression of that sequence when the proper enzymes are present. The promoter need not be contiguous with the sequence, so long as it functions to direct the expression thereof. Thus, for example, intervening untranslated yet transcribed sequences can be present between the promoter sequence and the nucleic acid sequence and the promoter sequence can still be considered “operably linked” to the coding sequence. Thus, the term “operably linked” is intended to encompass any spacing or orientation of the promoter element and the DNA sequence of interest which allows for initiation of transcription of the DNA sequence of interest upon recognition of the promoter element by a transcription complex.

According to the present invention, closed linear DNA molecules are generated by the action of protelomerase on DNA amplified from a closed linear DNA template comprising at least one protelomerase target sequence.

A protelomerase target sequence is any DNA sequence whose presence in a DNA template allows for its conversion into a closed linear DNA by the enzymatic activity of protelomerase. In other words, the protelomerase target sequence is required for the cleavage and religation of double stranded DNA by protelomerase to form covalently closed linear DNA.

Typically, a protelomerase target sequence comprises any perfect palindromic sequence i.e any double-stranded DNA sequence having two-fold rotational symmetry, also described herein as a perfect inverted repeat. As shown in FIG. 3, the protelomerase target sequences from various mesophilic bacteriophages, and a bacterial plasmid all share the common feature of comprising a perfect inverted repeat. The length of the perfect inverted repeat differs depending on the specific organism. In Borrelia burgdorferi, the perfect inverted repeat is 14 base pairs in length. In various mesophilic bacteriophages, the perfect inverted repeat is 22 base pairs or greater in length. Also, in some cases, e.g E. coli N15, the central perfect inverted palindrome is flanked by inverted repeat sequences, i.e forming part of a larger imperfect inverted palindrome (see FIGS. 2 and 3; the underlined bases indicate where the symmetry of the inverted repeats is interrupted).

A protelomerase target sequence as used in the invention preferably comprises a double stranded palindromic (perfect inverted repeat) sequence of at least 14 base pairs in length. Preferred perfect inverted repeat sequences include the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 16 to 21 and variants thereof. SEQ ID NO: 16 (NCATNNTANNCGNNTANNATGN) is a 22 base consensus sequence for a mesophilic bacteriophage perfect inverted repeat. As shown in FIG. 3, base pairs of the perfect inverted repeat are conserved at certain positions between different bacteriophages, while flexibility in sequence is possible at other positions. Thus, SEQ ID NO: 16 is a minimum consensus sequence for a perfect inverted repeat sequence for use with a bacteriophage protelomerase in a process of the present invention.

Within the consensus defined by SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17 (CCATTATACGCGCGTATAATGG) is a particularly preferred perfect inverted repeat sequence for use with E. coli phage N15 (SEQ ID NO: 15), and Klebsiella phage Phi KO2 (SEQ ID NO: 11) protelomerases. Also within the consensus defined by SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NOs: 18 to 20:

SEQ ID NO: 18 (GCATACTACGCGCGTAGTATGC), SEQ ID NO: 19 (CCATACTATACGTATAGTATGG), SEQ ID NO: 20 (GCATACTATACGTATAGTATGC), are particularly preferred perfect inverted repeat sequences for use respectively with protelomerases from Yersinia phage PY54 (SEQ ID NO: 9), Halomonas phage phiHAP-1 (SEQ ID NO: 7), and Vibrio phage VP882 (SEQ ID NO: 13). SEQ ID NO: 21 (ATTATATATATAAT) is a particularly preferred perfect inverted repeat sequence for use with a Borrelia burgdorferi protelomerase. This perfect inverted repeat sequence is from a linear covalently closed plasmid, lpB31.16 comprised in Borrelia burgdorferi. This 14 base sequence is shorter than the 22 bp consensus perfect inverted repeat for bacteriophages (SEQ ID NO: 16), indicating that bacterial protelomerases may differ in specific target sequence requirements to bacteriophage protelomerases. However, all protelomerase target sequences share the common structural motif of a perfect inverted repeat.

The perfect inverted repeat sequence may be greater than 22 bp in length depending on the requirements of the specific protelomerase used in a process of the invention. Thus, in some embodiments, the perfect inverted repeat may be at least 30, at least 40, at least 60, at least 80 or at least 100 base pairs in length. Examples of such perfect inverted repeat sequences include SEQ ID NOs: 22 to 24 and variants thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 22 (GGCATACTATACGTATAGTATGCC) SEQ ID NO: 23 (ACCTATTTCAGCATACTACGCGCGTAGTATGCTGAAATAGGT) SEQ ID NO: 24 (CCTATATTGGGCCACCTATGTATGCACAGTTCGCCCATACTATACGT ATAGTATGGGCGAACTGTGCATACATAGGTGGCCCAATATAGG)

SEQ ID NOs: 22 to 24 and variants thereof are particularly preferred for use respectively with protelomerases from Vibrio phage VP882 (SEQ ID NO: 13), Yersinia phage PY54 (SEQ ID NO: 9) and Halomonas phage phi HAP-1 (SEQ ID NO: 7).

The perfect inverted repeat may be flanked by additional inverted repeat sequences. The flanking inverted repeats may be perfect or imperfect repeats i.e may be completely symmetrical or partially symmetrical. The flanking inverted repeats may be contiguous with or non-contiguous with the central palindrome. The protelomerase target sequence may comprise an imperfect inverted repeat sequence which comprises a perfect inverted repeat sequence of at least 14 base pairs in length. An example is SEQ ID NO: 29. The imperfect inverted repeat sequence may comprise a perfect inverted repeat sequence of at least 22 base pairs in length. An example is SEQ ID NO: 25.

Particularly preferred protelomerase target sequences comprise the sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 25 to 29 or variants thereof.

SEQ ID NO: 25: (TATCAGCACACAATTGCCCATTATACGCGCGTATAATGGACTATTG TGTGCTGATA) SEQ ID NO: 26 (ATGCGCGCATCCATTATACGCGCGTATAATGGCGATAATACA) SEQ ID NO: 27 (TAGTCACCTATTTCAGCATACTACGCGCGTAGTATGCTGAAATAGG TTACTG) SEQ ID NO: 28: (GGGATCCCGTTCCATACATACATGTATCCATGTGGCATACTATACG TATAGTATGCCGATGTTACATATGGTATCATTCGGGATCCCGTT) SEQ ID NO: 29 (TACTAAATAAATATTATATATATAATTTTTTATTAGTA)

A preferred primer of the invention is capable of specifically binding to any one of the sequences of SEQ ID Nos: 25 to 29. For example a preferred primer of the invention may comprise or consist of a sequence selected from the following:

SEQ ID NO: 30 CGCATATTACCT/CGA/TTAACACAC SEQ ID NO: 31 GCGTATAATGGA/GCT/AATTGTGTG SEQ ID NO: 32 GCGTATAATGG SEQ ID NO: 33 CCATTATACGC SEQ ID NO: 34 CACACAATA/TGC/TCCAT SEQ ID NO: 35 ATGGA/GCA/TATTGTGTG SEQ ID NO: 36 CGCATCATACGACTTTATCCA SEQ ID NO: 37 GCGTAGTATGCTGAAATAGGT SEQ ID NO: 38 CATATCATACGGCTACAATGTATACC SEQ ID NO: 39 GTATAGTATGCCGATGTTACATATGG SEQ ID NO: 40 TATATTAA/TAAAA/TT/AAATCAT SEQ ID NO: 41 ATATAATT/ATTTT/AA/TTTAGTA

The sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 30 to 35 are suitable for specifically binding to SEQ ID NO: 25. Of these primers, SEQ ID NO: 32 is particularly preferred for use in a process of the invention in combination with an E. coli phage N15 protelomerase recognition sequence, as it has been shown to provide for the best DNA amplification rate at more than one annealing temperature.

The sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 32 and 33 are also suitable for specifically binding to SEQ ID NO: 26. The sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 36 and 37 are suitable for specifically binding to SEQ ID NO: 27. The sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 38 and 39 are suitable for specifically binding to SEQ ID NO: 28. The sequences of SEQ ID NOS. 40 and 41 are suitable for specifically binding to SEQ ID NO: 29.

The sequences of SEQ ID NOs: 25 to 29 comprise perfect inverted repeat sequences as described above, and additionally comprise flanking sequences from the relevant organisms. A protelomerase target sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 25 or a variant thereof is preferred for use in combination with E. coli N15 TelN protelomerase of SEQ ID NO: 15 and variants thereof. A protelomerase target sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 26 or a variant thereof is preferred for use in combination with Klebsiella phage Phi K02 protelomerase of SEQ ID NO: 11 and variants thereof. A protelomerase target sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27 or a variant thereof is preferred for use in combination with Yersinia phage PY54 protelomerase of SEQ ID NO: 9 and variants thereof. A protelomerase target sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28 or a variant thereof is preferred for use in combination with Vibrio phage VP882 protelomerase of SEQ ID NO: 13 and variants thereof. A protelomerase target sequence comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29 or a variant thereof is preferred for use in combination with a Borrelia burgdorferi protelomerase.

Variants of any of the palindrome or protelomerase target sequences described above include homologues or mutants thereof. Mutants include truncations, substitutions or deletions with respect to the native sequence. A variant sequence is any sequence whose presence in the DNA template allows for its conversion into a closed linear DNA by the enzymatic activity of protelomerase. This can readily be determined by use of an appropriate assay for the formation of closed linear DNA. Any suitable assay described in the art may be used. An example of a suitable assay is described in Deneke et al, PNAS (2000) 97, 7721-7726. Preferably, the variant allows for protelomerase binding and activity that is comparable to that observed with the native sequence. Examples of preferred variants of palindrome sequences described herein include truncated palindrome sequences that preserve the perfect repeat structure, and remain capable of allowing for formation of closed linear DNA. However, variant protelomerase target sequences may be modified such that they no longer preserve a perfect palindrome, provided that they are able to act as substrates for protelomerase activity.

It should be understood that the skilled person would readily be able to identify suitable protelomerase target sequences and design appropriate primers for use in the invention on the basis of the principles outlined above. Candidate protelomerase target sequences can be screened for their ability to promote formation of closed linear DNA using the assays described above.

The DNA template may comprise more than one protelomerase target sequence, for example, two, three, four, five, ten or more protelomerase target sequences. Use of multiple protelomerase target sequences can allow for excision of short closed linear DNAs comprising sequences of interest from a larger DNA molecule. In particular, one or more sequences of interest in the DNA template may be flanked on either side (i.e 5′ and 3′) by a protelomerase target sequence. The two flanking protelomerase sequences can then mediate excision of each short sequence of interest from the amplified DNA as a closed linear DNA, subject to the action of protelomerase. The DNA template may comprise one or more sequences of interest (preferably expression cassettes) flanked on either side by protelomerase target sequences. The DNA template may comprise two, three, four, five or more sequences of interest flanked by protelomerase target sequences as described above.

In a preferred embodiment, a process of the invention uses a DNA template comprising an expression cassette flanked on either side by a protelomerase target sequence. The expression cassette preferably comprises a eukaryotic promoter operably linked to a coding sequence of interest, and optionally a eukaryotic transcription termination sequence. In this embodiment, following amplification of the template DNA, and contacting with protelomerase according to the invention, the expression cassette is released from the amplified template as a closed linear DNA. Unnecessary sequences in the template DNA are concomitantly deleted as a result from the product.

Such unnecessary or extraneous sequences (also described as bacterial or vector sequences) may include bacterial origins of replication, bacterial selection markers (e.g antibiotic resistance genes), and unmethylated CpG dinucleotides. Deletion of such sequences creates a “minimal” expression cassette which does not contain extraneous genetic material. Also, bacterial sequences of the type described above can be problematic in some therapeutic approaches. For example, within a mammalian cell, bacterial/plasmid DNA can cause the cloned gene to switch off such that sustained expression of the protein of interest cannot be achieved. Also, antibiotic resistance genes used in bacterial propagation can cause a risk to human health. Furthermore, bacterial plasmid/vector DNA may trigger an unwanted non-specific immune response. A specific characteristic of bacterial DNA sequences, the presence of unmethylated cytosine-guanine dinucleotides, typically known as CpG motifs, may also lead to undesired immune responses.

In some embodiments, particularly where the closed linear DNA product is a DNA vaccine, CpG motifs may be retained in the sequence of the product. This is because they can have a beneficial adjuvant effect on the immune response to the encoded protein.

As outlined above, any DNA template comprising at least one protelomerase target sequence may be amplified according to a process of the invention. Thus, although production of DNA vaccines and other therapeutic DNA molecules is preferred, a process of the invention may be used to produce any type of closed linear DNA. The DNA template may be a double stranded (ds) or a single stranded (ss) DNA. A double stranded DNA template may be an open circular double stranded DNA, a closed circular double stranded DNA, an open linear double stranded DNA or a closed linear double stranded DNA. Preferably, the template is a closed circular double stranded DNA. Closed circular dsDNA templates are particularly preferred for use with RCA DNA polymerases. A circular dsDNA template may be in the form of a plasmid or other vector typically used to house a gene for bacterial propagation. Thus, a process of the invention may be used to amplify any commercially available plasmid or other vector, such as a commercially available DNA medicine, and then convert the amplified vector DNA into closed linear DNA.

An open circular dsDNA may be used as a template where the DNA polymerase is a strand displacement polymerase which can initiate amplification from at a nicked DNA strand. In this embodiment, the template may be previously incubated with one or more enzymes which nick a DNA strand in the template at one or more sites.

A closed linear dsDNA may also be used as a template. Where a closed linear DNA is used as a template, it may be incubated under denaturing conditions to form a single stranded circular DNA before or during conditions promoting amplification of the template DNA. The closed linear dsDNA template (starting material) may be identical to the closed linear DNA product. Thus, the template may be a closed linear DNA that is itself the product of an in vitro cell-free process for the production of closed linear DNA, for example a process in accordance with the present invention. A process for the production of closed linear DNA may typically comprise:

(a) contacting a DNA template comprising at least one protelomerase target sequence with at least one DNA polymerase in the presence of at least one species of primer under conditions promoting amplification of said template; and

(b) contacting amplified DNA produced in (a) with at least one protelomerase under conditions promoting production of closed linear DNA.

Preferably the at least one species of primer in step (a) is a primer in accordance with the present invention. That is, the at least one species of primer is capable of binding specifically to a palindromic sequence within the at least one protelomerase target sequence and is capable of priming amplification in both directions.

In other words, a process according to the present invention may comprise:

(a) contacting a DNA template comprising at least one protelomerase target sequence with at least one DNA polymerase in the presence of one or more species of primer under conditions promoting amplification of said template; and

(b) contacting amplified DNA produced in (a) with at least one protelomerase under conditions promoting production of closed linear DNA;

(c) repeating step (a) wherein the DNA template is the closed linear DNA product of step (b); and

(d) repeating step (b) on the amplified DNA produced in (c); and optionally

(e) performing further rounds of steps (c) and (d) wherein the template for each repetition of step (c) comprises the product of the previous repetition of step (d).

As will be appreciated, the addition of steps (c) to (e) provides for a cyclic reaction in which the product and the template are the same, allowing for the easy scaling up of the process from a small amount of starting template.

Preferably the at least one species of primer in steps (a) and (c) is a primer in accordance with the present invention. That is, the at least one species of primer is capable of binding specifically to a palindromic sequence within the at least one protelomerase target sequence and is capable of priming amplification in both directions

Closed linear DNA templates typically melt and re-anneal over a narrower temperature range than a corresponding linear template, because the complementary strands are attached to each other at each end and so re-anneal more readily. Thus, a preferred primer of the invention binds with high affinity to the palindromic sequence within this narrow temperature range. The temperature range is typically 50° C. to 95° C. The Tm of the primer of the invention is therefore preferably 45° C. to 60° C., 55° C. to 70° C., 65° C. to 80° C. or 75° C. to 95° C.

As outlined above, the DNA template typically comprises an expression cassette as described above, i.e comprising, consisting or consisting essentially of a eukaryotic promoter operably linked to a sequence encoding a protein of interest, and optionally a eukaryotic transcription termination sequence. Optionally the expression cassette may be a minimal expression cassette as defined above, i.e lacking one or more bacterial or vector sequences, typically selected from the group consisting of: (i) bacterial origins of replication; (ii) bacterial selection markers (typically antibiotic resistance genes) and (iii) unmethylated CpG motifs.

The DNA template may be provided in an amount sufficient for use in the process by any method known in the art. For example, the DNA template may be produced by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Where the DNA template is a dsDNA, it may be provided for the amplification step as denatured single strands by prior incubation at a temperature of at least 94 degrees centigrade. Thus, a process of the invention preferably comprises a step of denaturing a dsDNA template to provide single stranded DNA. Alternatively, the dsDNA template may be provided in double-stranded form. The whole or a selected portion of the DNA template may be amplified in the reaction.

The DNA template is contacted with at least one DNA polymerase under conditions promoting amplification of said template. Any DNA polymerase may be used in a process for amplification of closed linear DNA of the invention. Any commercially available DNA polymerase is suitable for use in this process of the invention. Two, three, four, five or more different DNA polymerases may be used, for example one which provides a proof reading function and one or more others which do not. DNA polymerases having different mechanisms may be used e.g strand displacement type polymerases and DNA polymerases replicating DNA by other methods. A suitable example of a DNA polymerase that does not have strand displacement activity is T4 DNA polymerase.

It is preferred that a DNA polymerase is highly stable, such that its activity is not substantially reduced by prolonged incubation under process conditions. Therefore, the enzyme preferably has a long half-life under a range of process conditions including but not limited to temperature and pH. It is also preferred that a DNA polymerase has one or more characteristics suitable for a manufacturing process. The DNA polymerase preferably has high fidelity, for example through having proof-reading activity. Furthermore, it is preferred that a DNA polymerase displays high processivity, high strand-displacement activity and a low Km for dNTPs and DNA. It is preferred that a DNA polymerase does not display non-specific exonuclease activity.

The skilled person can determine whether or not a given DNA polymerase displays characteristics as defined above by comparison with the properties displayed by commercially available DNA polymerases, e.g phi29, DeepVent® and Bacillus stearothermophilus (Bst) DNA polymerase I, SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3 and 5 respectively. Bst DNA polymerase I is commercially available from New England Biolabs, Inc. Where a high processivity is referred to, this typically denotes the average number of nucleotides added by a DNA polymerase enzyme per association/dissociation with the template, i.e the length of primer extension obtained from a single association event. Strand displacement-type polymerases are preferred for use in a process for amplification of closed linear DNA of the invention. Strand-displacement-type polymerases are also used in the process for DNA amplification of the invention which does not require use of protelomerase. Preferred strand displacement-type polymerases are Phi 29 (SEQ ID NO: 2), Deep Vent® (SEQ ID NO: 3) and Bst DNA polymerase I (SEQ ID NO: 5) or variants of any thereof. Variants of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 3 and 5 may be as defined below in relation to protelomerase enzymes. The term “strand displacement” is used herein to describe the ability of a DNA polymerase to displace complementary strands on encountering a region of double stranded DNA during DNA synthesis.

It should be understood that strand displacement amplication methods differ from PCR-based methods in that cycles of denaturation are not essential for efficient DNA amplification, as double-stranded DNA is not an obstacle to continued synthesis of new DNA strands. In contrast, PCR methods require a denaturation step (i.e elevating temperature to 94 degrees centigrade or above) in each cycle of the amplification process to melt double-stranded DNA and provide new single stranded templates.

A strand displacement DNA polymerase used in a process of the invention preferably has a processivity (primer extension length) of at least 20 kb, more preferably, at least 30 kb, at least 50 kb, or at least 70 kb or greater. In particularly preferred embodiments, the strand displacement DNA polymerase has a processivity that is comparable to, or greater than phi29 DNA polymerase.

A preferred strand displacement replication process is rolling circle amplification (RCA). The term RCA describes the ability of RCA-type DNA polymerases (also referred to herein as RCA polymerases) to continuously progress around a circular DNA template strand whilst extending a hybridised primer. This leads to formation of linear single stranded products with multiple repeats of amplified DNA. These linear single stranded products serve as the basis for multiple hybridisation, primer extension and strand displacement events, resulting in formation of concatameric double stranded DNA products, again comprising multiple repeats of amplified DNA. There are thus multiple copies of each amplified “single unit” DNA in the concatameric double stranded DNA products.

RCA polymerases are particularly preferred for use in a process of the present invention. The products of RCA-type strand displacement replication processes conventionally require complex processing to release single unit DNAs. Beneficially, according to the present invention, use of protelomerase catalytic functions allows this processing to be carried out in a single step. The use of protelomerase also directly generates the desired closed linear DNA structure without need for additional processing step(s) to form molecules having this structure.

The contacting of the DNA template with the DNA polymerase and at least one species of primer of the invention takes place under conditions promoting annealing of primers to the DNA template. The conditions include the presence of single-stranded DNA allowing for hybridisation of the primers. The conditions also include a temperature and buffer allowing for annealing of the primer to the template. Appropriate annealing/hybridisation conditions may be selected depending on the nature of the primer. An example of preferred annealing conditions used in the present invention include a buffer 30 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 20 mM KCl, 8 mM MgCl₂. The annealing may be carried out following denaturation by highly controlled gradual cooling to the desired reaction temperature. Typical cooling rates in degrees centigrade per minute are 1.0 to 5.0 but preferably 0.1 to 1.0, 0.3 to 1.0, 0.5 to 1.0 or 0.7 to 1.0. During cooling, the temperature may be held at specific temperatures with in the cooling range for periods of 1 to 10 minutes to create an optimal temperature profile for the primer to template annealing process. This is advantageous to allow maximum binding of the primer to the template before the template itself renatures.

Once the DNA template is contacted with the DNA polymerase and one or more species of primer, there is then a step of incubation under conditions promoting amplification of said template. Preferably, the conditions promote amplification of said template by displacement of replicated strands through strand displacement replication of another strand. The conditions comprise use of any temperature allowing for amplification of DNA, commonly in the range of 20 to 90 degrees centigrade. A preferred temperature range may be about 20 to about 40 or about 25 to about 35 degrees centigrade.

Typically, an appropriate temperature is selected based on the temperature at which a specific DNA polymerase has optimal activity. This information is commonly available and forms part of the general knowledge of the skilled person. For example, where phi29 DNA polymerase is used, a suitable temperature range would be about 25 to about 35 degrees centigrade, preferably about 30 degrees centigrade. The skilled person would routinely be able to identify a suitable temperature for efficient amplification according to the process of the invention. For example, the process could be carried out at a range of temperatures, and yields of amplified DNA could be monitored to identify an optimal temperature range for a given DNA polymerase.

Other conditions promoting amplification of the DNA template comprise the presence of a DNA polymerase and one or more primers. The conditions also include the presence of all four dNTPs, ATP, TTP, CTP and GTP, suitable buffering agents/pH and other factors which are required for enzyme performance or stability. Suitable conditions include any conditions used to provide for activity of DNA polymerase enzymes known in the art.

For example, the pH may be within the range of 3 to 10, preferably 5 to 8 or about 7, such as about 7.5. pH may be maintained in this range by use of one or more buffering agents. Such buffers include, but are not restricted to MES, Bis-Tris, ADA, ACES, PIPES, MOBS, MOPS, MOPSO, Bis-Tris Propane, BES, TES, HEPES, DIPSO, TAPSO, Trizma, HEPPSO, POPSO, TEA, EPPS, Tricine, Gly-Gly, Bicine, HEPBS, TAPS, AMPD, TABS, AMPSO, CHES, CAPSO, AMP, CAPS, CABS, phosphate, citric acid-sodium hydrogen phosphate, citric acid-sodium citrate, sodium acetate-acetic acid, imidazole and sodium carbonate-sodium bicarbonate. The reaction may also comprise salts of divalent metals such as but not limited to salts of magnesium (Mg²⁺) and manganese (Mn²⁺), including chlorides, acetates and sulphates. Salts of monovalent metals may also be included, such as sodium salts and potassium salts, for example potassium chloride. Other salts that may be included are ammonium salts, in particular ammonium sulphate.

Detergents may also be included. Examples of suitable detergents include Triton X-100, Tween 20 and derivatives of either thereof. Stabilising agents may also be included in the reaction. Any suitable stabilising agent may be used, in particular, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and other stabilising proteins. Reaction conditions may also be improved by adding agents that relax DNA and make template denaturation easier. Such agents include, for example, dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), formamide, glycerol and betaine.

It should be understood that the skilled person is able to modify and optimise amplification and incubation conditions for a process of the invention on the basis of their general knowledge. Likewise the specific concentrations of particular agents may be selected on the basis of previous examples in the art and further optimised on the basis of general knowledge. As an example, a suitable reaction buffer used in RCA-based methods in the art is 50 mM Tris HCl, pH 7.5, 10 mM MgCl₂, 20 mM (NH₄)₂SO₄, 5% glycerol, 0.2 mM BSA, 1 mM dNTPs. A preferred reaction buffer used in the RCA amplification of the invention is 35 mM Tris-HCl, 50 mM KCl, 14 mM MgCl₂, 10 mM (NH₄)₂ SO₄, 4 mM DTT, 1 mM dNTP. This buffer is particularly suitable for use with phi29 RCA polymerase.

The reaction conditions may also comprise use of one or more additional proteins. The DNA template may be amplified in the presence of at least one pyrophosphatase, such as Yeast Inorganic pyrophosphatase. Two, three, four, five or more different pyrophosphatases may be used. These enzymes are able to degrade pyrophosphate generated by the DNA polymerase from dNTPs during strand replication. Build up of pyrophosphate in the reaction can cause inhibition of DNA polymerases and reduce speed and efficiency of DNA amplification. Pyrophosphatases can break down pyrophosphate into non-inhibitory phosphate. An example of a suitable pyrophosphatase for use in a process of the present invention is Saccharomyces cerevisiae pyrophosphatase, available commercially from New England Biolabs, Inc

Any single-stranded binding protein (SSBP) may be used in a process of the invention, to stabilise single-stranded DNA. SSBPs are essential components of living cells and participate in all processes that involve ssDNA, such as DNA replication, repair and recombination. In these processes, SSBPs bind to transiently formed ssDNA and may help stabilise ssDNA structure. An example of a suitable SSBP for use in a process of the present invention is T4 gene 32 protein, available commercially from New England Biolabs, Inc.

In addition to the amplification step, a process of the invention for amplification of closed linear DNA also comprises a processing step for production of closed linear DNA. Amplified DNA is contacted with at least one protelomerase under conditions promoting production of closed linear DNA. This simple processing step based on protelomerase is advantageous over other methods used for production of closed linear DNA molecules. The amplification and processing steps can be carried out simultaneously or concurrently. However, preferably, the amplification and processing steps are carried out sequentially with the processing step being carried out subsequent to the amplification step (i.e on amplified DNA).

A protelomerase used in the invention is any polypeptide capable of cleaving and rejoining a template comprising a protelomerase target site in order to produce a covalently closed linear DNA molecule. Thus, the protelomerase has DNA cleavage and ligation functions. Enzymes having protelomerase-type activity have also been described as telomere resolvases (for example in Borrelia burgdorferi). A typical substrate for protelomerase is circular double stranded DNA. If this DNA contains a protelomerase target site, the enzyme can cut the DNA at this site and ligate the ends to create a linear double stranded covalently closed DNA molecule. The requirements for protelomerase target sites are discussed above. As also outlined above, the ability of a given polypeptide to catalyse the production of closed linear DNA from a template comprising a protelomerase target site can be determined using any suitable assay described in the art.

Protelomerase enzymes have been described in bacteriophages. In some lysogenic bacteria, bacteriophages exist as extrachromosomal DNA comprising linear double strands with covalently closed ends. The replication of this DNA and the maintenance of the covalently closed ends (or telomeric ends) are dependent on the activity of the enzyme, protelomerase. The role of protelomerase in the replication of the viral DNA is illustrated in FIG. 1. An example of this catalytic activity is provided by the enzyme, TelN from the bacteriophage, N15 that infects Escherichia coli. TelN recognises a specific nucleotide sequence in the circular double stranded DNA. This sequence is a slightly imperfect inverted palindromic structure termed telRL comprising two halves, telR and telL, flanking a 22 base pair inverted perfect repeat (telO) (see FIG. 2). Two telRL sites are formed in the circular double stranded DNA by the initial activity of specific DNA polymerase acting on the linear prophage DNA. TelN converts this circular DNA into two identical linear prophage DNA molecules completing the replication cycle. telR and telL comprise the closed ends of the linear prophage DNA enabling the DNA to be replicated further in the same way.

The process of the invention for amplification of closed linear DNA requires use of at least one protelomerase. This process of the invention may comprise use of more than one protelomerase, such as two, three, four, five or more different protelomerases. Examples of suitable protelomerases include those from bacteriophages such as phiHAP-1 from Halomonas aquamarina (SEQ ID NO: 7), PY54 from Yersinia enterolytica (SEQ ID NO: 9), phiKO2 from Klebsiella oxytoca (SEQ ID NO: 11) and VP882 from Vibrio sp. (SEQ ID NO: 13), and N15 from Escherichia coli (SEQ ID NO: 15), or variants of any thereof. Use of bacteriophage N15 protelomerase (SEQ ID NO: 15) or a variant thereof is particularly preferred.

Variants of SEQ ID NOs: 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15 include homologues or mutants thereof. Mutants include truncations, substitutions or deletions with respect to the native sequence. A variant must produce closed linear DNA from a template comprising a protelomerase target site as described above.

Any homologues mentioned herein are typically a functional homologue and are typically at least 40% homologous to the relevant region of the native protein. Homology can be measured using known methods. For example the UWGCG Package provides the BESTFIT program which can be used to calculate homology (for example used on its default settings) (Devereux et al (1984) Nucleic Acids Research 12, 387-395). The PILEUP and BLAST algorithms can be used to calculate homology or line up sequences (typically on their default settings), for example as described in Altschul S. F. (1993) J Mol Evol 36:290-300; Altschul, S, F et al (1990) J Mol Biol 215:403-10. Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/).

The BLAST algorithm performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences; see e.g., Karlin and Altschul (1993) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90: 5873-5787. One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences would occur by chance. For example, a sequence is considered similar to another sequence if the smallest sum probability in comparison of the first sequence to the second sequence is less than about 1, preferably less than about 0.1, more preferably less than about 0.01, and most preferably less than about 0.001.

A variant polypeptide comprises (or consists of) sequence which has at least 40% identity to the native protein. In preferred embodiments, a variant sequence may be at least 55%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% and more preferably at least 95%, 97% or 99% homologous to a particular region of the native protein over at least 20, preferably at least 30, for instance at least 40, 60, 100, 200, 300, 400 or more contiguous amino acids, or even over the entire sequence of the variant. Alternatively, the variant sequence may be at least 55%, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% and more preferably at least 95%, 97% or 99% homologous to full-length native protein. Typically the variant sequence differs from the relevant region of the native protein by at least, or less than, 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, 50 or 60 mutations (each of which can be substitutions, insertions or deletions). A variant sequence of the invention may have a percentage identity with a particular region of the full-length native protein which is the same as any of the specific percentage homology values (i.e. it may have at least 40%, 55%, 80% or 90% and more preferably at least 95%, 97% or 99% identity) across any of the lengths of sequence mentioned above.

Variants of the native protein also include truncations. Any truncation may be used so long as the variant is still able to produce closed linear DNA as described above. Truncations will typically be made to remove sequences that are non-essential for catalytic activity and/or do not affect conformation of the folded protein, in particular folding of the active site. Truncations may also be selected to improve solubility of the protelomerase polypeptide. Appropriate truncations can routinely be identified by systematic truncation of sequences of varying length from the N- or C-terminus.

Variants of the native protein further include mutants which have one or more, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5 to 10, 10 to 20, 20 to 40 or more, amino acid insertions, substitutions or deletions with respect to a particular region of the native protein. Deletions and insertions are made preferably outside of the catalytic domain. Insertions are typically made at the N- or C-terminal ends of a sequence derived from the native protein, for example for the purposes of recombinant expression. Substitutions are also typically made in regions that are non-essential for catalytic activity and/or do not affect conformation of the folded protein. Such substitutions may be made to improve solubility or other characteristics of the enzyme. Although not generally preferred, substitutions may also be made in the active site or in the second sphere, i.e. residues which affect or contact the position or orientation of one or more of the amino acids in the active site. These substitutions may be made to improve catalytic properties.

Substitutions preferably introduce one or more conservative changes, which replace amino acids with other amino acids of similar chemical structure, similar chemical properties or similar side-chain volume. The amino acids introduced may have similar polarity, hydrophilicity, hydrophobicity, basicity, acidity, neutrality or charge to the amino acids they replace. Alternatively, the conservative change may introduce another amino acid that is aromatic or aliphatic in the place of a pre-existing aromatic or aliphatic amino acid. Conservative amino acid changes are well known in the art and may be selected in accordance with the properties of the 20 main amino acids as defined in Table A.

TABLE A Chemical properties of amino acids Ala aliphatic, hydrophobic, neutral Met hydrophobic, neutral Cys polar, hydrophobic, neutral Asn polar, hydrophilic, neutral Asp polar, hydrophilic, charged (−) Pro hydrophobic, neutral Glu polar, hydrophilic, charged (−) Gln polar, hydrophilic, neutral Phe aromatic, hydrophobic, neutral Arg polar, hydrophilic, charged (+) Gly aliphatic, neutral Ser polar, hydrophilic, neutral His aromatic, polar, hydrophilic, charged (+) Thr polar, hydrophilic, neutral Ile aliphatic, hydrophobic, neutral Val aliphatic, hydrophobic, neutral Lys polar, hydrophilic, charged(+) Trp aromatic, hydrophobic, neutral Leu aliphatic, hydrophobic, neutral Tyr aromatic, polar, hydrophobic

It is particularly preferred that the variant is able to produce closed linear DNA as described above with an efficiency that is comparable to, or the same as the native protein.

As outlined above, it is preferred that the amplification of DNA according to a process of the invention is carried out by a strand displacement DNA polymerase, more preferably an RCA DNA polymerase. The combination of an RCA DNA polymerase and a protelomerase in an in vitro cell free process allows for surprising efficiency and simplicity in the production of closed linear DNA.

As discussed above, long linear single stranded DNA molecules are initially formed in strand displacement reactions which then serve as new templates, such that double stranded molecules are formed (FIG. 4). The double stranded molecules comprise a continuous series of tandem units of the amplified DNA formed by the processive action of strand displacement polymerases (a concatamer). These concatameric DNA products comprise multiple repeats of the amplified template DNA. A concatamer generated in a process of the invention therefore comprises multiple units of sequence amplified from the DNA template. The concatamer may comprise 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 or 1000 or more units of amplified sequence, depending on the length of the single unit which is to be amplified. The concatamer may be at least 5 kb, at least 10 kb, at least 20 kb, more preferably at least 30 kb, at least 50 kb, or at least 70 kb or greater in size.

In many embodiments, for example in the production of DNA medicines, the amplified DNA will be required for use as a single unit. Therefore, such concatamers require processing to release single units of the amplified DNA. In order to convert this concatemeric DNA into single units of amplified DNA, it needs to be precisely cut and the ends of the paired strands require religation.

In accordance with the invention, this may be done by incorporation of restriction endonuclease sites into the DNA template. Thus, restriction endonucleases may be incubated with concatamers to cleave at their recognition sites and release single units. The open linear double stranded DNA formed by the action of restriction endonucleases can then be incubated with a DNA ligase enzyme to covalently close the single unit DNAs. Any suitable restriction endonuclease known to the skilled person may be used. For example, suitable restriction endonucleases include HindIII, EcoRI, NdeI, XmaI, PvuI, BsaI, BciVI and AlwNI or any other template compatible single site specific enzyme. Suitable conditions for use with restriction endonucleases and DNA ligase enzymes are known to those skilled in the art.

According to the present invention, the processing of concatameric DNA into closed linear single unit DNAs is however preferably achieved by use of a single enzyme, protelomerase. This represents an advantageous simplicity and economy in a process for generation of closed linear DNA molecules. Firstly, cleavage and religation of single units is achieved by incubation with a single enzyme. Secondly, the single units are also released having the desired closed linear structure, and so additional processing steps to generate this structure (i.e from a covalently closed circular single unit DNA) are not required.

The DNA amplified from the DNA template is thus preferably incubated with at least one protelomerase under conditions promoting production of closed linear DNA. In other words, the conditions promote the cleavage and religation of a double stranded DNA comprising a protelomerase target sequence to form a covalently closed linear DNA with hairpin ends. Conditions promoting production of closed linear DNA comprise use of any temperature allowing for production of closed linear DNA, commonly in the range of 20 to 90 degrees centigrade. The temperature may preferably be in a range of 25 to 40 degrees centigrade, such as about 25 to about 35 degrees centigrade, or about 30 degrees centigrade. Appropriate temperatures for a specific protelomerase may be selected according to the principles outlined above in relation to temperature conditions for DNA polymerases. A suitable temperature for use with E. coli bacteriophage TelN protelomerase of SEQ ID NO: 15 is about 25 to about 35 degrees centigrade, such as about 30 degrees centigrade.

Conditions promoting production of closed linear DNA also comprise the presence of a protelomerase and suitable buffering agents/pH and other factors which are required for enzyme performance or stability. Suitable conditions include any conditions used to provide for activity of protelomerase enzymes known in the art. For example, where E. coli bacteriophage TelN protelomerase is used, a suitable buffer may be 20 mM TrisHCl, pH 7.6; 5 mM CaCl₂; 50 mM potassium glutamate; 0.1 mM EDTA; 1 mM Dithiothreitol (DTT). Agents and conditions to maintain optimal activity and stability may also be selected from those listed for DNA polymerases.

In some embodiments, it may be possible to use the same conditions for activity of protelomerase as are used for DNA amplification. In particular, use of the same conditions is described where DNA amplification and processing by protelomerase are carried out simultaneously or concurrently. In other embodiments, it may be necessary to change reaction conditions where conditions used to provide optimal DNA polymerase activity lead to sub-optimal protelomerase activity. Removal of specific agents and change in reaction conditions may be achievable by filtration, dialysis and other methods known in the art. The skilled person would readily be able to identify conditions allowing for optimal DNA polymerase activity and/or protelomerase activity.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, for use in amplification of DNA by an RCA DNA polymerase, preferably phi29, the DNA amplification is carried out under buffer conditions substantially identical to or consisting essentially of 35 mM Tris-HCl, 50 mM KCl, 14 mM MgCl₂, 10 mM (NH₄)₂ SO₄, 4 mM DTT, 1 mM dNTP at a temperature of 25 to 35 degrees centigrade, such as about 30 degrees centigrade. The processing step with protelomerase may then preferably be carried out with TelN, and/or preferably under buffer conditions substantially identical to or consisting essentially of 20 mM TrisHCl, pH 7.6; 5 mM CaCl₂; 50 mM potassium glutamate; 0.1 mM EDTA; 1 mM Dithiothreitol (DTT) at a temperature of 25 to 35 degrees centigrade, such as about 30 degrees centigrade.

All enzymes and proteins for use in a process of the invention may be produced recombinantly, for example in bacteria. Any means known to the skilled person allowing for recombinant expression may be used. A plasmid or other form of expression vector comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein of interest may be introduced into bacteria, such that they express the encoded protein. For example, for expression of SEQ ID NOs: 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 or 15, the vector may comprise the sequence of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 respectively. The expressed protein will then typically be purified, for example by use of an affinity tag, in a sufficient quantity and provided in a form suitable for use in a process of the invention. Such methodology for recombinant protein production is routinely available to the skilled person on the basis of their general knowledge. The above discussion applies to the provision of any protein discussed herein.

Amplified DNA obtained by contacting of the DNA template with a DNA polymerase may be purified prior to contacting with a protelomerase or other enzyme. Thus, a process of the invention may further comprise a step of purifying DNA amplified from the DNA template. However, in a preferred embodiment, the process is carried out without purification of amplified DNA prior to contacting with a protelomerase or other enzyme. This means the amplification and processing steps can be carried out consecutively, typically in the same container or solution. In some such embodiments, the process involves the addition of a buffer providing for protelomerase activity i.e. to provide conditions promoting formation of closed linear DNA. Similarly, a buffer providing for restriction endonuclease activity may be added where applicable.

Following production of closed linear DNA by the action of protelomerase, the process of the invention for amplification of closed linear DNA may further comprise a step of purifying the linear covalently closed DNA product. Similarly, DNA amplified according to other processes of the invention may also be purified. The purification referred to above will typically be performed to remove any undesired products. Purification may be carried out by any suitable means known in the art. For example, processing of amplified DNA or linear covalently closed DNA may comprise phenol/chloroform nucleic acid purification or the use of a column which selectively binds nucleic acid, such as those commercially available from Qiagen. The skilled person can routinely identify suitable purification techniques for use in isolation of amplified DNA.

Once linear covalently closed DNA or another form of DNA produced in accordance with the invention has been generated and purified in a sufficient quantity, a process of the invention may further comprise its formulation as a DNA composition, for example a therapeutic DNA composition. A therapeutic DNA composition will comprise a therapeutic DNA molecule of the type referred to above. Such a composition will comprise a therapeutically effective amount of the DNA in a form suitable for administration by a desired route e.g. an aerosol, an injectable composition or a formulation suitable for oral, mucosal or topical administration.

Formulation of DNA as a conventional pharmaceutical preparation may be done using standard pharmaceutical formulation chemistries and methodologies, which are available to those skilled in the art. Any pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient may be used. Auxiliary substances, such as wetting or emulsifying agents, pH buffering substances and the like, may be present in the excipient or vehicle. These excipients, vehicles and auxiliary substances are generally pharmaceutical agents which may be administered without undue toxicity and which, in the case of vaccine compositions will not induce an immune response in the individual receiving the composition. A suitable carrier may be a liposome.

Pharmaceutically acceptable excipients include, but are not limited to, liquids such as water, saline, polyethyleneglycol, hyaluronic acid, glycerol and ethanol. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts can also be included therein, for example, mineral acid salts such as hydrochlorides, hydrobromides, phosphates, sulfates, and the like; and the salts of organic acids such as acetates, propionates, malonates, benzoates, and the like. It is also preferred, although not required, that the preparation will contain a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient that serves as a stabilizer, particularly for peptide, protein or other like molecules if they are to be included in the composition. Examples of suitable carriers that also act as stabilizers for peptides include, without limitation, pharmaceutical grades of dextrose, sucrose, lactose, trehalose, mannitol, sorbitol, inositol, dextran, and the like. Other suitable carriers include, again without limitation, starch, cellulose, sodium or calcium phosphates, citric acid, tartaric acid, glycine, high molecular weight polyethylene glycols (PEGS), and combination thereof. A thorough discussion of pharmaceutically acceptable excipients, vehicles and auxiliary substances is available in REMINGTON'S PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES (Mack Pub. Co., N.J. 1991), incorporated herein by reference.

A process of the invention is carried out in an in vitro cell-free environment. Thus, the process is carried out in the absence of a host cell and typically comprises use of purified enzymatic components. Accordingly, the amplification of a template DNA, including processing by protelomerase or other enzymes where applicable is typically carried out by contacting the reaction components in solution in a suitable container. Optionally, particular components may be provided in immobilised form, such as attached to a solid support.

It should be understood that a process of the invention may be carried out at any scale. However, it is preferred that the process is carried out to amplify DNA at a commercial or industrial scale i.e generating amplified DNA in milligramme or greater quantities. It is preferred that the process generates at least one milligramme, at least 10 milligrammes, at least 20 milligrammes, at least 50 milligrammes or at least 100 milligrammes of amplified DNA. The final closed linear DNA product derived from the amplified DNA in a process for amplification of closed linear DNA of the invention may also preferably be generated in milligramme or greater quantities. It is preferred that the process generates al least one milligramme, at least 2 milligrammes, at least 5 milligrammes, at least 10 milligrammes, at least 20 milligrammes, at least 50 milligrammes, or at least 100 milligrammes of closed linear DNA.

The invention further provides a kit comprising components required to carry out a process of the invention. This kit comprises at least one species of primer according to the invention and at least one DNA polymerase. Preferably, the DNA polymerase is a strand displacement-type DNA polymerase. The kit may further comprise at least one protelomerase and optionally instructions for use in a process for amplification of closed linear DNA as described herein.

The kit may comprise two, three, four, five or more different DNA polymerases. Preferably, the kit comprises at least one strand displacement-type DNA polymerase, still more preferably an RCA DNA polymerase. It is particularly preferred that the kit comprises phi29 DNA polymerase (SEQ ID NO: 2), Deep Vent® DNA polymerase (SEQ ID NO: 3) or Bst 1 DNA polymerase (SEQ ID NO: 5) or a variant of any thereof. In some embodiments, DNA polymerases that replicate DNA by other methods may also be included.

The kit preferably comprises at least one protelomerase. The kit may comprise two, three, four or more different protelomerases. The protelomerases may be selected from any of SEQ ID NOs: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 or 15 or variants of any thereof. It is particularly preferred that the kit comprises E. coli N15 TelN (SEQ ID NO: 15) or a variant thereof.

The kit may comprise a restriction endonuclease, such as those described above, preferably in combination with a strand displacement-type DNA polymerase.

The kit may preferably comprise at least one primer comprising or consisting of a sequence selected from the following:

SEQ ID NO: 30 CGCATATTACCT/CGA/TTAACACAC SEQ ID NO: 31 GCGTATAATGGA/GCT/AATTGTGTG SEQ ID NO: 32 GCGTATAATGG SEQ ID NO: 33 CCATTATACGC SEQ ID NO: 34 CACACAATA/TGC/TCCAT SEQ ID NO: 35 ATGGA/GCA/TATTGTGTG SEQ ID NO: 36 CGCATCATACGACTTTATCCA SEQ ID NO: 37 GCGTAGTATGCTGAAATAGGT SEQ ID NO: 38 CATATCATACGGCTACAATGTATACC SEQ ID NO: 39 GTATAGTATGCCGATGTTACATATGG SEQ ID NO: 40 TATATTAA/TAAAA/TT/AAATCAT SEQ ID NO: 41 ATATAATT/ATTTT/AA/TTTAGTA

The kit may also comprise at least one single stranded binding protein (SSBP). A preferred SSBP is T4 gene 32 protein available commercially from New England Biolabs, Inc. Two, three, four or more different SSBPs may be included in the kit. The kit may further comprise a pyrophosphatase. A preferred pyrophosphatase is S. cerevisiae pyrophosphatase, available commercially from New England Biolabs, Inc. In some embodiments, two, three, four, five or more different pyrophosphatases may be included. The kit may comprise any DNA polymerase, protelomerase, restriction endonuclease, SSBP or pyrophosphatase described herein. The kit may also comprise dNTPs, suitable buffers and other factors which are required for DNA polymerase and/or protelomerase enzyme performance or stability as described above.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Production of Closed Linear DNA from a Double Stranded Circular DNA Template

Double stranded circular DNA containing a protelomerase TelN binding sequence is used as the DNA template. A single palindromic oligonucleotide complementary to a section of one half of the palindromic sequence that comprises the protelomerase TelN binding site is used to specifically prime both strands. Examples of suitable primers include SEQ ID NOS. 30 to 35. Denaturation of the double stranded circular template and the annealing of the single primer is carried out in an annealing/denaturation buffer containing, for example, 30 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, mM KCl, 2.5 mM MgCl₂. Denaturation is carried out by heating to 95° C. and maintaining at this temperature for 1 to 10 minutes followed by a carefully controlled cooling profile optimised for the maximum binding of the specific primer to the template. The temperature is then reduced to the optimum for DNA amplification by a suitable DNA polymerase. A suitable enzyme is phi29 isolated from the Bacillus subtilis phage phi29 that works optimally at 30° C.

A suitable volume of reaction buffer containing the enzymes phi29 and PPi (Yeast Inorganic pyrophosphatase), is then added to the annealed DNA/primer reaction. The reaction mixture is incubated at around 30° C. for between 5 and 20 hours or longer. A suitable reaction buffer typically contains 35 mM Tris-HCl, 50 mM KCl, 2.5 mM MgCl₂, 10 mM (NH₄)₂ SO₄, 4 mM DTT, 1 mM dNTP.

Concatameric DNA amplified by RCA is then incubated at 30° C. with the protelomerase TelN in a suitable buffer such as 10 mM Tris HCl pH 7.6, 5 mM CaCl₂, 50 mM potassium glutamate, 0.1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT until the reaction is complete. The resulting closed linear DNA product may be purified, for example, by gel electrophoresis or a suitable chromatographic method depending on the amount to be purified.

Example 2

Production of Closed Linear DNA from a Closed Linear DNA Template

Closed linear DNA containing telomeric ends comprising the binding sequence of a protelomerase TelN is used as the DNA template. A single palindromic oligonucleotide complementary to a section of one half of the palindromic sequence that comprises the telomeric ends of the template is used as a specific primer. The primer binds to two identical sites on the DNA template. Examples of suitable primers include SEQ ID NOS. 30 to 35.

Denaturation of the closed linear DNA template and the annealing of the single primer is carried out in an annealing/denaturation buffer containing, for example, 30 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 20 mM KCl, 2.5 mM MgCl₂. Denaturation is carried out by heating to 95° C. for 1 min and maintaining at this temperature for 1 to 10 minutes followed by a carefully controlled cooling profile optimised for the maximum binding of the specific primer to the template. The temperature is then reduced to the optimum for DNA amplification by a suitable DNA polymerase. A suitable enzyme is phi29 isolated from the Bacillus subtilis phage phi29 that works optimally at 30° C.

A suitable volume of reaction buffer containing the enzymes phi29 and PPi (Yeast Inorganic pyrophosphatase), is then added to the annealed DNA/primer reaction. The reaction mixture is incubated at around 30° C. for between 5 and 20 hours or longer. A suitable reaction buffer typically contains 35 mM Tris-HCl, 50 mM KCl, 2.5 mM MgCl₂, 10 mM (NH₄)₂SO₄, 4 mM DTT, 1 mM dNTP.

Concatameric DNA amplified by RCA is then incubated at 30° C. with the protelomerase TelN in a suitable buffer such as 10 mM Tris HCl pH 7.6, 5 mM CaCl₂, 50 mM potassium glutamate, 0.1 mM EDTA, 1 mM DTT until the reaction is complete. The resulting closed linear DNA product may be purified, for example, by gel electrophoresis or a suitable chromatographic method depending on the amount to be purified.

The method of Example 2 provides for a cyclic reaction wherein the product is identical to the template, and therefore provides a method for easily scaling up the reaction from a very small amount of template by carrying out additional cycles of the methods steps.

Examples 3 and 4 Materials and Methods Conditions for DNA Amplification

4.3 kb circular double stranded DNA containing a protelomerase TelN binding sequence and a HindIII restriction endonuclease site was used as the DNA template. The TelN binding sequence constitutes an inverted palindrome. Oligonucleotides of different lengths complementary to sequences on one half of the palindromic TelN binding site were used as single specific primers. Such primers bind to identical sites on opposing strands within the TelN sequence of the DNA template and initiate DNA synthesis in opposite directions. Thus, only a single oligonucleotide is required to prime each strand. Examples of primers tested are selected from SEQ ID NOS. 30 to 42.

Denaturation of the circular double stranded DNA template and the initial annealing of the single primer were carried out in a buffer containing 1 ng DNA template, 30 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.5, 30 mM KCl and 15 mM MgCl₂ in a volume of 50 μl. The concentration of single primer was 10 mM while the concentration of random hexamers included for comparative purposes was 50 mM. Denaturation was carried out by heating to 95° C. for 1 min followed by rapid cooling to 25° C. over a period of 2 minutes. The temperature was then changed to the selected temperature for DNA amplification using Bacillus subtilis phage phi29 DNA polymerase. Phi29 DNA polymerase functions within the range 25-35° C. and optimally at 30° C.

DNA amplification was carried out by adding 500 reaction buffer (30 mM Tris-HCl, 30 mM KCl, 15 mM MgCl₂, 5 mM (NH4)₂ SO₄, 2 mM DTT, 0.5 mM dNTP) containing the enzymes phi29 (0.04 μM) and yeast inorganic pyrophosphatase (0.5 U/ml) to the annealed DNA/primer reaction mixture. The reaction was carried out at 30° C. and 34° C. for up to 20 hours.

Concatameric DNA produced by the phi29 enzyme in a rolling circle amplification reaction (RCA) was then treated either with protelomerase TelN or HindIII restriction endonuclease. Both enzymes cut the concatameric DNA to produce product of identical size to the template but with the TelN product having covalently closed ends. The reaction conditions were as follows:

HindIII Reaction Conditions

For HindIII digestion, reaction samples of concatameric DNA were quantified using PicoGreen assay (Invitrogen) and adjusted where possible to 250 ng per 20 μl of buffer/enzyme containing 40 U Hind III restriction enzyme, 20 mM Tris-OAc, pH 7.9, 50 mM KOAc, 10 mM Mg(OAc)₂ and 1 mM dithiothreitol. The reaction was incubated for 30 min at 37° C.

TelN Reaction Conditions

For TelN cleavage/joining, samples of concatameric DNA were quantified using PicoGreen assay (Invitrogen) and adjusted where possible to 250 ng per 20 μl of buffer/enzyme containing 8 pmol TelN protelomerase, 10 mM Tris HCl pH 7.6, 5 mM CaCl₂, 50 mM potassium glutamate, 0.1 mM EDTA, 1 mM dithiothreitol. The reaction was incubated at 30° C. for 1.5 hours.

Gel Electrophoresis

20 μl of digested DNA product was mixed with 4 μl of gel loading buffer and loaded on to a 0.8% agarose gel. The mixture was separated by electrophoresis and stained with ethidium bromide to visualise the DNA. The loading of 5 μl DNA ladder for reference, allowed the identification of the 4.3 kb DNA product.

Gel Imaging

Image analysis was carried out under UV conditions using SynGene GeneSnap software. Densitometry traces of gel images were carried out using ImageJ analysis software (http://imagej.nih.gov/ij/). The densitometry images allow a clearer comparison of purity of the 4.3 kb product derived from single specific primers compared to random hexamers.

Example 3 Comparison Between Single Oligonucleotide Primers and Random Hexamers in Rolling Circle Amplification of DNA at 30° C.

Template DNA amplification reactions by RCA were carried out at 30° C. using random hexamers, 11mer primers SEQ IDs 32 and 33 (melting temperature approximately 32° C. for each primer) and 15mer primers SEQ IDs 34 and 35 (melting temperatures 36° C. to 39° C.).

Reactions were analysed after 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr, 6 hr and 9 hr. Concatameric DNA samples from the reactions were subjected to HindIII treatment and the products separated by gel electrophoresis as previously described. The gels were analysed using SynGene GeneSnap analysis software as described. The results are shown in FIGS. 7A, 8A and 9A. RCA reaction rates by phi29 for each primer were calculated from concatameric DNA quantification at each time point by using the PicoGreen method.

Results

As shown in FIG. 7A, at 30° C. each of the single specific primers (11mers SEQ IDs 32 and 33 and 15mers SEQ IDs 34 and 35) was able to prime the amplification of the 4.3 kb circular double stranded DNA template by phi29 DNA polymerase. Reaction rates for each primer are shown. At the single primer concentration used (10 mM), primers SEQ IDs 32 (11mer) and 34 (15mer) performed better than primers SEQ IDs 33 (11mer) and 35 (15mer). While rates of DNA amplification were slower with primer SEQ IDs 32 and 34 compared to random hexamers, they achieved the same final DNA yield.

Random hexamer primers gave a better rate of reaction than the best single primer (SEQ ID 32) but it should be noted that the concentration used (50 mM) was 5 times greater than that used for single priming reactions (10 mM). Optimising the concentration of single primer to avoid primer dimer formation may produce higher rates of reaction.

Reactions were also monitored by comparing the purity of the open ended linear double stranded 4.3 kb product formed by treating the concatameric DNA product of the phi29 reaction with HindIII restriction endonuclease (FIG. 8A). The samples compared were each derived from 250 ng DNA digestions. DNA remaining in the wells of amplifications carried out with random hexamers and the single 11mer primer (SEQ ID 32) was most probably meshed single stranded DNA which cannot be cut with HindIII. This is commonly observed in RCA reactions with phi29 polymerase (lanes 1, 6, 11, 16 and 17).

The data in FIG. 8A (lanes 11 to 20) clearly show that at 30° C., each of the single specific primers yielded a cleaner 4.3 kb product than random hexamer primers exhibiting fewer extraneous bands and lower levels of smearing around the 4.3 kb product band. Compare for example lane 11 with lanes 12 to 15 and lane 16 with lanes 17 to 20. This can also be seen from the densitometry data in FIG. 9A.

This surprising observation may be explained because hexamer primers can randomly initiate DNA synthesis on the DNA template resulting in the phi29 polymerase creating a greater diversity of concatamer lengths. More DNA waste fragments are therefore formed following treatment with HindIII and this is manifested by extra bands and smearing in the electrophoresis gels.

This is of particular importance in a DNA production process. The use of a single specific primer with a strand displacing rolling circle DNA polymerase (such as phi29) would result in a more efficient conversion of substrate to product. In addition, the product is more easily and cost effectively purified. In this way, single specific palindromic primers have important advantages over mixtures of primers such as random hexamers.

Example 4 Comparison Between Single Oligonucleotide Primers and Random Hexamers in Rolling Circle Amplification of DNA at 34° C.

Template DNA amplification reactions by RCA were carried out at 34° C. using random hexamers, and 11mer primers SEQ IDs 32 and 33 (melting temperatures approximately 32° C.). Reactions were analysed after 1 hr, 2 hr, 4 hr, 6 hr and 9 hrs. Separate concatameric DNA samples from the reactions were subjected to HindIII and protelomerase TelN treatment and the products were separated by gel electrophoresis as previously described. The gels were analysed using image analysis software as described. The results are shown in FIG. 8B for HindIII digests and in FIG. 8C for TelN digested concatameric DNA.

Results

34° C. would be expected to be a more optimal temperature for 11mer annealing to template than random hexamer annealing but is above the optimum 30° C. for phi29 DNA polymerase activity.

Random hexamer primers and each of the single specific primers (11mers SEQ IDs 32 and 33) were able to prime the amplification of the 4.3 kb circular double stranded DNA template by phi29 DNA polymerase. Reaction rates for each primer are shown in FIG. 7B. At the single primer concentration used (10 mM), primer SEQ ID 32 (11mer) performed better than primers SEQ ID 33 (11mer) but did not reach the rate achieved by random hexamers. Again, as previously stated, it is possible that the concentration of single primer at 10 mM was suboptimal for the reaction compared to that used for the random hexamers (50 mM). This would explain the lower reaction rates that were observed.

With all three primer types, the rates of DNA synthesis at 34° C. was significantly lower than at 30° C. which was probably due to the enzyme working suboptimally at this temperature.

Reactions were also monitored by comparing the purity of the open ended linear double stranded 4.3 kb product formed by treating the concatameric DNA product of the phi29 reaction with HindIII restriction endonuclease (FIG. 8B). The samples compared were each derived from 250 ng DNA digestions. DNA remaining in the wells of amplifications carried out with random hexamers and the single 11mer primer (SEQ ID 32) was most probably meshed single stranded DNA which cannot be cut with HindIII (lanes 7 and 10).

The data in FIG. 8B (lanes 7 to 15) clearly show that at 34° C., each of the single specific primers again yielded a cleaner 4.3 kb product than random hexamer primers with fewer extraneous bands and lower levels of smearing around the 4.3 kb product band. This can also be seen from the densitometry data in FIG. 9B. This is similar to the observations made at 30° C. with these three types of primer.

In addition, when the DNA concatameric product of the phi29 enzyme was digested with protelomerase TelN to produce a closed linear 4.3 kb product, the results indicated an identical performance by the random hexamer primers and the two 11mer primers SEQ IDs 32 and 33 (FIG. 8C). The samples compared were again derived from 250 ng DNA digestions.

The results obtained indicate that a single specific oligonucleotide primer can outperform a mixture of random hexamer primers in terms of quality of end product.

Sequences of the Invention

TABLE A Bacillus bacteriophage phi29 DNA polymerase nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1) atgaagcata tgccgagaaa gatgtatagt tgtgactttg agacaactac taaagtggaa 60 gactgtaggg tatgggcgta tggttatatg aatatagaag atcacagtga gtacaaaata 120 ggtaatagcc tggatgagtt tatggcgtgg gtgttgaagg tacaagctga tctatatttc 180 cataacctca aatttgacgg agcttttatc attaactggt tggaacgtaa tggttttaag 240 tggtcggctg acggattgcc aaacacatat aatacgatca tatctcgcat gggacaatgg 300 tacatgattg atatatgttt aggctacaaa gggaaacgta agatacatac agtgatatat 360 gacagcttaa agaaactacc gtttcctgtt aagaagatag ctaaagactt taaactaact 420 gttcttaaag gtgatattga ttaccacaaa gaaagaccag tcggctataa gataacaccc 480 gaagaatacg cctatattaa aaacgatatt cagattattg cggaacgtct gttaattcag 540 tttaagcaag gtttagaccg gatgacagca ggcagtgaca gtctaaaagg tttcaaggat 600 attataacca ctaagaaatt caaaaaggtg tttcctacat tgagtcttgg actcgataag 660 gaagtgagat acgcctatag aggtggtttt acatggttaa atgataggtt caaagaaaaa 720 gaaatcggag aaggcatggt cttcgatgtt aatagtctat atcctgcaca gatgtatagc 780 cgtctccttc catatggtga acctatagta ttcgagggta aatacgtttg ggacgaagat 840 tacccactac acatacagca tatcagatgt gagttcgaat tgaaagaggg ctatataccc 900 actatacaga taaaaagaag taggttttat aaaggtaatg agtacctaaa aagtagcggc 960 ggggagatag ccgacctctg gttgtcaaat gtagacctag aattaatgaa agaacactac 1020 gatttatata acgttgaata tatcagcggc ttaaaattta aagcaactac aggtttgttt 1080 aaagatttta tagataaatg gacgtacatc aagacgacat cagaaggagc gatcaagcaa 1140 ctagcaaaac tgatgttaaa cagtctatac ggtaaattcg ctagtaaccc tgatgttaca 1200 gggaaagtcc cttatttaaa agagaatggg gcgctaggtt tcagacttgg agaagaggaa 1260 acaaaagacc ctgtttatac acctatgggc gttttcatca ctgcatgggc tagatacacg 1320 acaattacag cggcacaggc ttgttatgat cggataatat actgtgatac tgacagcata 1380 catttaacgg gtacagagat acctgatgta ataaaagata tagttgaccc taagaaattg 1440 ggatactggg cacatgaaag tacattcaaa agagttaaat atctgagaca gaagacctat 1500 atacaagaca tctatatgaa agaagtagat ggtaagttag tagaaggtag tccagatgat 1560 tacactgata taaaatttag tgttaaatgt gcgggaatga ctgacaagat taagaaagag 1620 gttacgtttg agaatttcaa agtcggattc agtcggaaaa tgaagcctaa gcctgtgcaa 1680 gtgccgggcg gggtggttct ggttgatgac acattcacaa tcaaataa 1728 Bacillus bacteriophage phi29 DNA polymerase amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) MKHMPRKMYS CDFETTTKVE DCRVWAYGYM NIEDHSEYKI GNSLDEFMAW VLKVQADLYF 60 HNLKFDGAFI INWLERNGFK WSADGLPNTY NTIISRMGQW YMIDICLGYK GKRKIHTVIY 120 DSLKKLPFPV KKIAKDFKLT VLKGDIDYHK ERPVGYKITP EEYAYIKNDI QIIAERLLIQ 180 FKQGLDRMTA GSDSLKGFKD IITTKKFKKV FPTLSLGLDK EVRYAYRGGF TWLNDRFKEK 240 EIGEGMVFDV NSLYPAQMYS RLLPYGEPIV FEGKYVWDED YPLHIQHIRC EFELKEGYIP 300 TIQIKRSRFY KGNEYLKSSG GEIADLWLSN VDLELMKEHY DLYNVEYISG LKFKATTGLF 360 KDFIDKWTYI KTTSEGAIKQ LAKLMLNSLY GKFASNPDVT GKVPYLKENG ALGFRLGEEE 420 TKDPVYTPMG VFITAWARYT TITAAQACYD RIIYCDTDSI HLTGTEIPDV IKDIVDPKKL 480 GYWAHESTFK RVKYLRQKTY IQDIYMKEVD GKLVEGSPDD YTDIKFSVKC AGMTDKIKKE 540 VTFENFKVGF SRKMKPKPVQ VPGGVVLVDD TFTIK 575

TABLE B Pyrococcus sp Deep Vent DNA polymerase amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 3) MILDADYITE DGKPIIRIFK KENGEFKVEY DRNFRPYIYA LLKDDSQIDE VRKITAERHG 60 KIVRIIDAEK VRKKFLGRPI EVWRLYFEHP QDVPAIRDKI REHSAVIDIF EYDIPFAKRY 120 LIDKGLIPME GDEELKLLAF DIETLYHEGE EFAKGPIIMI SYADEEEAKV ITWKKIDLPY 180 VEVVSSEREM IKRFLKVIRE KDPDVIITYN GDSFDLPYLV KRAEKLGIKL PLGRDGSEPK 240 MQRLGDMTAV EIKGRIHFDL YHVIRRTINL PTYTLEAVYE AIFGKPKEKV YAHEIAEAWE 300 TGKGLERVAK YSMEDAKVTY ELGREFFPME AQLSRLVGQP LWDVSRSSTG NLVEWYLLRK 360 AYERNELAPN KPDEREYERR LRESYAGGYV KEPEKGLWEG LVSLDFRSLY PSIIITHNVS 420 PDTLNREGCR EYDVAPEVGH KFCKDFPGFI PSLLKRLLDE RQEIKRKMKA SKDPIEKKML 480 DYRQRAIKIL ANSYYGYYGY AKARWYCKEC AESVTAWGRE YIEFVRKELE EKFGFKVLYI 540 DTDGLYATIP GAKPEEIKKK ALEFVDYINA KLPGLLELEY EGFYVRGFFV TKKKYALIDE 600 EGKIITRGLE IVRRDWSEIA KETQAKVLEA ILKHGNVEEA VKIVKEVTEK LSKYEIPPEK 660 LVIYEQITRP LHEYKAIGPH VAVAKRLAAR GVKVRPGMVI GYIVLRGDGP ISKRAILAEE 720 FDLRKHKYDA EYYIENQVLP AVLRILEAFG YRKEDLRWQK TKQTGLTAWL NIKKK 775

TABLE C Bacillus stearothermophilus DNA polymerase I (polA) nucleic acid sequence(SEQ ID NO: 4) atgaagaaga agctagtact aattgatggc aacagtgtgg cataccgcgc cttttttgcc 60 ttgccacttt tgcataacga caaaggcatt catacgaatg cggtttacgg gtttacgatg 120 atgttgaaca aaattttggc ggaagaacaa ccgacccact tacttgtagc gtttgacgcc 180 ggaaaaacga cgttccggca tgaaacgttt caagagtata aaggcggacg gcaacaaact 240 cccccggaac tgtccgagca gtttccgctg ttgcgcgagc tattaaaagc gcaccgcatt 300 cccgcctatg aacttgatca ttacgaagcg gacgatatta tcgggacgct cgctgcccgc 360 gctgagcaag aagggtttga agtgaaaatc atttccggcg accgcgattt aacccagctc 420 gcctcccgtc atgtgacggt cgatattacg aaaaaaggga ttaccgacat tgagccgtat 480 acgccagaga ccgttcgcga aaaatacggc ctgactccgg agcaaatagt ggatttaaaa 540 ggattgatgg gcgataaatc cgacaacatc ccgggcgtgc ccggcatcgg ggaaaaaacg 600 gcggtcaagc tgctgaagca atttggtacg gtggaaaatg tgcccgcatc gattgatgag 660 gtgaaagggg aaaaactgaa agaaaacttg cgccaacacc gggatttagc tctcttgagc 720 aaacagctgg cgtccatttg ccgcgacgcc ccggttgagc tgtcgttaga tgacattgtc 780 tacgaaggac aagaccgcga aaaagtcatc gcgttattta aagaactcgg gtttcagtcg 840 ttcttggaaa aaatggccgc gccggcagcc gaaggggaga aaccgcttga ggagatggag 900 tttgccatcg ttgacgtcat taccgaagag atgcttgccg acaaggcagc gcttgtcgtt 960 gaggtgatgg aagaaaacta ccacgatgcc ccgattgtcg gaatcgcact agtgaacgag 1020 catgggcgat tttttatgcg cccggagacc gcgctggctg attcgcaatt tttagcatgg 1080 cttgccgatg aaacgaagaa aaaaagcatg tttgacgcca agcgcgcagt cgttgcctta 1140 aagtggaaag gaattgagct tcgcggcgtc gcccttgatt tattgctcgc tgcctatttg 1200 ctcaatccgg ctcaagatgc cggcgatatc gctgcggtgg cgaaaatgaa acaatatgaa 1260 gcggtgcggt cggatgaagc ggtctatggc aaaggcgtca agcggtcgct gccggacgaa 1320 cagacgcttg ctgagcatct cgttcgcaaa gcggcagcca tttgggcgct tgagcagccg 1380 tttatggacg atttgcggaa caacgaacaa gatcaattat taacgaagct tgagcagccg 1440 ctggcggcga ttttggctga aatggaattc actggggtga acgtggatac aaagcggctt 1500 gaacagatgg gttcggagct cgccgaacaa ctgcgtgcca tcgagcagcg catttacgag 1560 ctagccggcc aagagttcaa cattaactca ccaaaacagc tcggagtcat tttatttgaa 1620 aagctgcagc taccggtgct gaagaagacg aaaacaggct attcgacttc ggctgatgtg 1680 cttgagaagc ttgcgccgca tcatgaaatc gtcgaaaaca ttttgcatta ccgccagctt 1740 ggcaaactgc aatcaacgta tattgaagga ttgttgaaag ttgtgcgccc tgataccggc 1800 aaagtgcata cgatgttcaa ccaagcgctg acgcaaactg ggcggctcag ctcggccgag 1860 ccgaacttgc aaaacattcc gattcggctc gaagaggggc ggaaaatccg ccaagcgttc 1920 gtcccgtcag agccggactg gctcattttc gccgccgatt actcacaaat tgaattgcgc 1980 gtcctcgccc atatcgccga tgacgacaat ctaattgaag cgttccaacg cgatttggat 2040 attcacacaa aaacggcgat ggacattttc catgtgagcg aagaggaagt cacggccaac 2100 atgcgccgcc aggcaaaggc cgttaacttc ggtatcgttt acggaattag cgattacgga 2160 ttggcgcaaa acttgaacat tacgcgcaaa gaagctgccg aatttatcga acgttacttc 2220 gccagctttc cgggcgtaaa gcagtatatg gaaaacattg tgcaagaagc gaaacagaaa 2280 ggatatgtga caacgctgtt gcaccggcgc cgctattcgc ctgatattac aagccgcaat 2340 ttcaacgtcc gcagttttgc agagcggacg gccatgaaca cgccaattca aggaagcgcc 2400 gctgacatta ttaaaaaagc gatgattgat ttagcggcac ggctgaaaga agagcagctt 2460 caggctcgtc ttttgctgca agtgcatgac gagctcattt tggaagcgcc aaaagaggaa 2520 attgagcgat tatgtgagct tgttccggaa gtgatggagc aggccgttac gctccgcgtg 2580 ccgctgaaag tcgactacca ttacggccca acatggtatg atgccaaata a 2631 Bacillus stearothermophilus DNA polymerase I (polA) amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 5) MKKKLVLIDG NSVAYRAFFA LPLLHNDKGI HTNAVYGFTM MLNKILAEEQ PTHLLVAFDA 60 GKTTFRHETF QEYKGGRQQT PPELSEQFPL LRELLKAYRI PAYELDHYEA DDIIGTLAAR 120 AEQEGFEVKI ISGDRDLTQL ASRHVTVDIT KKGITDIEPY TPETVREKYG LTPEQIVDLK 180 GLMGDKSDNI PGVPGIGEKT AVKLLKQFGT VENVLASIDE VKGEKLKENL RQHRDLALLS 240 KQLASICRDA PVELSLDDIV YEGQDREKVI ALFKELGFQS FLEKMAAPAA EGEKPLEEME 300 FAIVDVITEE MLADKAALVV EVMEENYHDA PIVGIALVNE HGRFFMRPET ALADSQFLAW 360 LADETKKKSM FDAKRAVVAL KWKGIELRGV AFDLLLAAYL LNPAQDAGDI AAVAKMKQYE 420 AVRSDEAVYG KGVKRSLPDE QTLAEHLVRK AAAIWALEQP FMDDLRNNEQ DQLLTKLEQP 480 LAAILAEMEF TGVNVDTKRL EQMGSELAEQ LRAIEQRIYE LAGQEFNINS PKQLGVILFE 540 KLQLPVLKKT KTGYSTSADV LEKLAPHHEI VENILHYRQL GKLQSTYIEG LLKVVRPDTG 600 KVHTMFNQAL TQTGRLSSAE PNLQNIPIRL EEGRKTRQAF VPSEPDWLIF AADYSQIELR 660 VLAHIADDDN LIEAFQRDLD IHTKTAMDIF HVSEEEVTAN MRRQAKAVNF GIVYGISDYG 720 LAQNLNITRK EAAEFIERYF ASFPGVKQYM ENIVQEAKQK GYVTTLLHRR RYLPDITSRN 780 FNVRSFAERT AMNTPIQGSA ADIIKKAMID LAARLKEEQL QARLLLQVHD ELILEAPKEE 840 IERLCELVPE VMEQAVTLRV PLKVDYHYGP TWYDAK 876

TABLE D Halomonas phage phiHAP-1 protelomerase nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 6) atgagcggtg agtcacgtag aaaggtcgat ttagcggaat tgatagagtg gttgctcagc 60 gagatcaaag agatcgacgc cgatgatgag atgccacgta aagagaaaac caagcgcatg 120 gcgcggccgg cacgtagctt caaaacgcgc ctgcatgatg acaagcgccg caaggattct 180 gagcggatcg cggtcacgac cittcgccqc tacatgacag aagcgcgcaa ggcggtgact 240 gcgcagaact ggcgccatca cagcttcgac cagcagatcg agcggctggc cagccgctac 300 ccggcttatg ccagcaagct ggaagcgctc ggcaagctga ccgatatcag cgccattcgt 360 atggcccacc gcgagctgct cgaccagatc cgcaacgatg acgacgctta tgaggacatc 420 cgggcgatga agctggacca tgaaatcatg cgccacctga cgttgagctc tgcacagaaa 480 agcacgctgg ctgaagaggc cagcgagacg ctggaagagc gcgcggtgaa cacggtcgag 540 atcaactacc actggttgat ggagacggtt tacgagctgc tgagtaaccg ggagagaatg 600 gtcgatgggg agtatcgcgg ctttttcagt tacctagcgc ttgggctggc gctggccacc 660 gggcgtcgct cgatcgaggt gctgaagacc ggacggatca cgaaggtggg cgagtatgag 720 ctggagttca gcggccaggc gaaaaagcgc ggcggcgtcg actacagcga ggcttaccac 780 atttataccc tggtgaaagc tgacctggtg atcgaagcgt gggatgagct tcgctcgctg 840 ccggaagctg ctgagctgca gggcatggac aacagcgatg tgaaccgccg cacggcgaag 900 acgctcaaca cgctcactaa gcggatcttt aacaacgatg agcgcgtttt caaggacagc 960 cgggcgatct gggcgcggct ggtgtttgag ctgcactcct cgcgcgacaa gcgctggaag 1020 aaagtcaccg aggacgtgtt ctggcgtgag atgctggggc atgaggacat ggatacacag 1080 cgcagctacc gcgcctttaa aatcgactac gacgagccgg atcaagccga ccaggaagat 1140 tacgaacacg ctagccgcct cgccgcgctg caggcgctgg acggccatga gcagcttgag 1200 agcagcgacg cccaggcgcg tgtgcatgcc tgggtgaaag cgcagatcga gcaggagccc 1260 gacgcgaaaa ttacgcagtc tctgatcagc cgggagctgg gcgtttatcg ccctgccata 1320 aaagcgtacc tggagctggc gcgagaggcg ctcgacgcgc cgaacgtcga tctggacaag 1380 gtcgcggcgg cagtgccgaa ggaagtagcc gaggcgaagc cccggctgaa cgcccaccca 1440 caaggggatg gcaggtgggt cggggtggct tcaatcaacg gggtggaagt tgcacgggtg 1500 ggcaaccagg caggccggat cgaagcgatg aaagcggcct ataaagcggc gggtgggcgc 1560 tga 1563 Halomonas phage phiHAP-1 protelomerase amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 7) MSGESRRKVD LAELIEWLLS EIKEIDADDE MPRKEKTKRM ARLARSFKTR LHDDKRRKDS 60 ERIAVTTFRR YMTEARKAVT AQNWRHHSFD QQIERLASRY PAYASKLEAL GKLTDISAIR 120 MAHRELLDQI RNDDDAYEDI RAMKLDHEIM RHLTLSSAQK STLAEEASET LEERAVNTVE 180 INYHWLMETV YELLSNRERM VDGEYRGFFS YLALGLALAT GRRSIEVLKT GRITKVGEYE 240 LEFSGQAKKR GGVDYSEAYH IYTLVKADLV IEAWDELRSL PEAAELQGMD NSDVNRRTAK 300 TLNTLTKRIF NNDERVFKDS RAIWARLVFE LHFSRDKRWK KVTEDVFWRE MLGHEDMDTQ 360 RSYRAFKIDY DEPDQADQED YEHASRLAAL QALDGHEQLE SSDAQARVHA WVKAQIEQEP 420 DAKITQSLIS RELGVYRPAI KAYLELAREA LDAPNVDLDK VAAAVPKEVA EAKPRLNAHP 480 QGDGRWVGVA SINGVEVARV GNQAGRIEAM KAAYKAAGGR 520

TABLE E Yersinia phage PY54 protelomerase nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 8) atgaaaatcc attttcgcga tttagttagt ggtttagtta aagagatcga tgaaatagaa 60 aaatcagacc gggcgcaggg tgacaaaact cggcgttatc agggcgcggc cagaaagttc 120 aaaaatgccg tgtttatgga taaacggaaa tatcgcggta acggtatgaa gaatagaata 180 tcgttaacaa catttaataa atatttaagt cgagcacgtt ctcggtttga agaaaggctt 240 caccatagtt ttcctcaatc tatagcaact atctcaaata aatatcctgc attcagcgaa 300 ataataaaag atctggataa tagacccgct catgaagtta gaataaaact taaagaatta 360 ataactcatc ttgaatccgg tgttaattta ttagaaaaaa taggtagctt agggaaaata 420 aaaccatcta cagctaaaaa aatagttagc ttaaaaaaaa tgtacccatc atgggctaat 480 gatctagata ctttaattag tactgaagat gctacagaat tacaacaaaa gttagagcaa 540 gggaccgacc tacttaacgc attacattct ctaaaagtaa accatgaagt tatgtatgca 600 ttaacgatgc agccttctga cagagctgca ttaaaagcta ggcatgacgc tgcccttcac 660 tttaaaaagc gtaacatcgt acctatcgat tatcccggct atatgcaacg aatgacggac 720 atactacatc ttccagatat agcttttgaa gattcgatgg catcacttgc ccctttagca 780 tttgctctag cagctgctag cggtcgcaga caaattgaaa tactaattac tggtgagttt 840 gacgccaaaa ataaaagcat cattaaattt tctggacaag caaaaaaaag aatggccgtt 900 tcaggtggac attatgaaat atacagtcta attgactcag agctattcat tcaacggtta 960 gagtttttac gttctcatag ctcaatactt cgattacaaa atttggaaat agcacatgat 1020 gaacatcgta ctgaactatc tgttattaac ggttttgtag ccaaactttt aaatgatgca 1080 gcaaaacagt tctttgtcga tgacagaaga gtatttaaag atacccgtgc aatttacgct 1140 cgcatagcat atgaaaaatg gtttagaaca gatcctcgct gggcgaagtg cgacgaagat 1200 gttttcttct ctgaattatt aggccatgac gacccagata ctcagctggc atataaacaa 1260 ttcaagctgg taaatttcaa tccaaaatgg acacctaata tatcagatga aaaccctcgg 1320 ttagctgcac ttcaagagct tgacaatgat atgcccggcc tagcacgtgg cgatgcggca 1380 gttcgcatac atgagtgggt taaagagcaa ctggcgcaga accctgcggc aaaaataact 1440 gcataccaaa tcaagaaaaa tttaaattgt cgaaatgact tggccagccg atacatggca 1500 tggtgtgctg acgcgctagg ggttgttatt ggtgatgatg gacaggcaag gccagaagaa 1560 ctcccaccat cgctcgtgct tgatattaac gctgatgaca ctgacgctga agaagatgaa 1620 atagaggaag actttactga tgaggaaata gacgacaccg aattcgacgt atcagataac 1680 gccagtgatg aagataagcc cgaagataaa cctcgctttg cagcaccaat tcgtagaagt 1740 gaggactctt ggctgattaa atttgaattt gctggcaagc aatatagctg ggagggtaat 1800 gccgaaagtg ttatcgatgc gatgaaacaa gcatggactg aaaatatgga gtaa 1854 Yersinia phage PY54 protelomerase amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 9) MKIHFRDLVS GLVKEIDEIE KSDRAQGDKT RRYQGAARKF KNAVFMDKRK YRGNGMKNRI 60 SLTTFNKYLS RARSRFEERL HHSFPQSIAT ISNKYPAFSE IIKDLDNRPA HEVRIKLKEL 120 ITHLESGVNL LEKIGSLGKI KPSTAKKIVS LKKMYPSWAN DLDTLISTED ATELQQKLEQ 180 GTDLLNALHS LKVNHEVMYA LTMQPSDRAA LKARHDAALH FKKRNIVPID YPGYMQRMTD 240 ILHLPDIAFE DSMASLAPLA FALAAASGRR QIEILITGEF DAKNKSIIKF SGQAKKRMAV 300 SGGHYEIYSL IDSELFIQRL EFLRSHSSIL RLQNLEIAHD EHRTELSVIN GFVAKPLNDA 360 AKQFFVDDRR VFKDTRAIYA RIAYEKWFRT DPRWAKCDED VFFSELLGHD DPDTQLAYKQ 420 FKLVNFNPKW TPNISDENPR LAALQELDND MPGLARGDAA VRIHEWVKEQ LAQNPAAKIT 480 AYQIKKNLNC RNDLASRYMA WCADALGVVI GDDGQARPEE LPPSLVLDIN ADDTDAEEDE 540 IEEDFTDEEI DDTEFDVSDN ASDEDKPEDK PRFAAPIRRS EDSWLIKFEF AGKQYSWEGN 600 AESVIDAMKQ AWTENME 617

TABLE F Klebsiella phage phiKO2 protelomerase nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 10) atgcgtaagg tgaaaattgg tgagctaatc aattcgcttg tgagcgaggt cgaggcaatc 60 gatgcctctg atcgtccgca aggcgataaa acgaagaaaa ttaaagccgc agcattaaaa 120 tataagaatg cattatttaa tgacaaaaga aagtttcgcg gtaaaggttt agaaaaaaga 180 atttctgcca acacgttcaa ctcgtatatg agtcgggcaa ggaaaagatt tgatgataga 240 ttgcatcata actttgaaaa gaatgtaatt aaactatcag aaaaatatcc tttatatagt 300 gaagaattat cttcgtggct ttctatgcct gcggcatcaa ttagacagca tatgtcaaga 360 ttgcaagcca agctaaaaga gataatgcca ttggcagaag acttatccaa tataaagatt 420 ggtacaaaaa atagcgaagc aaaaataaat aaactcgcta ataaatatcc tgaatggcaa 480 ttcgctatta gtgatttaaa tagcgaagat tggaaggaca aaagagatta tctttataaa 540 ctattccaac aaggttcttc gctcctggaa gacttgaata acctgaaagt aaaccatgag 600 gttctctatc atctgcagct tagttctgcc gagcgaacct ctatccagca gcgctgggcc 660 aacgtcctca gcgagaaaaa gcgcaacgtc gccgtgatcg actatccgcg ctatatgcag 720 gccatctacg atataatcaa caagcctata gttccgttcg atttgactac tcgtcgtggt 780 atggccccgc tggcgttcgc ccttgccgcg ctatctggcc gccgaatgat tgaaatcatg 840 ctccagggtg aattttccgt cgcaggtaaa tatacagtaa cattcctggg gcaagctaaa 900 aaacgctcgg aagataaagg tatatcaagg aaaatatata ccttatgcga cgctacttta 960 tttgttagtt tggtaaatga acttcgctca tgccccgctg ctgcggattt tgatgaagta 1020 ataaaaggat atggcgaaaa tgacactcgc tcagaaaacg ggcgtattaa tgcaattctc 1080 gctacagctt ttaatccgtg ggtaaaaact ttcttaggcg acgaccgccg cgtttataaa 1140 gatagccgcg ctatttacgc ccgtattgcc tatgaaatgt tcttccgcgt tgaccctcgg 1200 tggaagaatg ttgatgagga tgtattcttc atggagattc tcggccatga cgatgaaaac 1260 acccaactgc actataagca gtttaaattg gctaacttct ccagaacatg gcgaccaaat 1320 gtcggcgagg agaatgcccg cctagcggcg ctgcaaaagc tggatagcat gatgccagat 1380 tttgccaggg gcgacgccgg ggttcgtatc catgagaccg tgaagcagct ggtggagcag 1440 gacccatcga taaaaatcac aaacagcacc ctgcgaccgt ttaacttcag taccaggctg 1500 attcctcgct acctggagtt tgccgccgat gcattgggcc agttcgtcgg tgaaaatggg 1560 caatggcaac tgaaggatga ggcgcctgca atagtcctgc ctgatgagga aattcttgag 1620 cctatggacg acgtcgacct cgatgacgaa aaccatgatg atgaaacgct ggatgacgat 1680 gagatcgaag tggacgaaag cgaaggagag gaactggagg aagcgggcga cgctgaagag 1740 gccgaggtgg ctgaacagga agagaagcac cctggcaagc caaactctaa agcgccgagg 1800 gataatggcg atggtaccta catggtggaa tttgaattcg gtggccgtca ttacgcctgg 1860 tccggtgccg ccggtaatcg ggtagaggca atgcaatctg cctggagtgc ctacttcaag 1920 tga 1923 Klebsiella phage phiKO2 protelomerase amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 11) MRKVKIGELI NSLVSEVEAI DASDRPQGDK TKKIKAAALK YKNALFNDKR KFRGKGLEKR 60 ISANTFNSYM SRARKRFDDR LHHNFEKNVI KLSEKYPLYS EELSSWLSMP AASIRQHMSR 120 LQAKLKEIMP LAEDLSNIKl GTKNSEAKIN KLANKVPEWQ FAISDLNSED WKDKRDYLYK 180 LFQQGSSLLE DLNNLKVNHE VLYHLQLSSA ERTSIQQRWA NVLSEKKRNV VVIDYPRYMQ 240 AIYDIINKPI VSFDLTTRRG MAPLAFALAA LSGRRMIEIM LQGEFSVAGK YTVTFLGQAK 300 KRSEDKGISR KIYTLCDATL FVSLVNELRS CPAAADFDEV IKGYGENDTR SENGRINAIL 360 ATAFNPWVKT FLGDDRRVYK DSRAIYARIA YEMFFPVDPR WKNVDEDVFF MEILGHDDEN 420 TQLHYKQFKL ANFSRTWRPN VGEENARLAA LQKLDSMMPD FARGDAGVRI HETVKQLVEQ 480 DPSIKITNST LRPFNFSTRL IPRYLEFAAD ALGQFVGENG QWQLKDEAPA IVLPDEEILE 540 PMDDVDLDDE NHDDETLDDD EIEVDESEGE ELEEAGDAEE AEVAEQEEKH PGKPNFKAPR 600 DNGDGTYMVE FEFGGRHYAW SGAAGNRVEA MQSAWSAYFK 640

TABLE G Vibrio phage VP882 protelomerase nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 12) atgagcggcg aaagtagaca aaaggtaaac ctcgaggagt taataaatga gctcgtcgag 60 gaggtgaaaa ccatcgatga caacgaggcg atcactcggt ccgaaaaaac caagttgatc 120 accagggcgg cgactaaatt caagaccaag ccgcacgacg ataagcgccg gaaggatgcg 180 accagaatcg ctctgagcac ctaccgtaag tacatgacaa tggccagggc agcagttact 240 gagcagaact ggaaacacca cagtctcgag cagcagatag agcggctggc caaaaagcac 300 ccgcaatacg ctgagcagct ggtggccatc ggggccatgg acaacatcac cgagttgcgc 360 ctggcgcatc gcgacctcct gaagagcatc aaggacaacg atgaagcctt cgaggatatc 420 cgcagcatga agttagacca cgaggtaatg cgccatctga cgctacccag tgcgcaaaag 480 gcgagactgg cagaggaagc cgccgaggcg ttgaccgaga agaaaaccgc cacggtcgac 540 atcaactatc acgagctgat ggccggcgtg gtggagctgt tgaccaagaa gaccaagacg 600 gtcggcagcg acagcaccta cagcttcagc cggctcgcgc ttggtattgg cctggctacc 660 ggtcgtcgtt ctatcgagat actgaagcag ggcgagttca aaaaggtgga tgagcagcgg 720 ctcgagttct ctggccaagc gaaaaagcgc ggcggtgccg actattcaga gacctatacc 780 atttacaccc tggtcgactc cgacctggta ctgatggcgc tgaagaacct gcgagagttg 840 ccagaagtcc gcgcactgga tgagtacgac caactgggcg agattaagcg gaacgacgcc 900 atcaataaac gctgtgcaaa aacgctcaac caaaccgcca agcagttctt tggcagcgac 960 gagcgcgtgt tcaaagatag tcgtgccatc tgggcgcgtc tggcttatga gttgtttttt 1020 caacgtgatc cgcgctggaa aaagaaagac gaggacgttt tctggcagga gatgctgggc 1080 cacgaggaca tcgagactca gaaagcctat aagcaattca aggtcgacta cagcgaacct 1140 gagcagccgg tgcacaagcc tggcaaattt aagagcagag ctgaagccct cgcggcgctc 1200 gactcaaatg aggacattac cacccgctca tccatggcca agatccacga ctgggtgaaa 1260 gagcgtattg cggaagaccc cgaggcgaac atcacacagt cactcatcac ccgggaactg 1320 ggctcaggcc gtaaggtgat caaggactac ctcgacctgg ctgacgatgc ccttgctgtg 1380 gtgaatactc ctgtcgatga cgcagtcgtc gaggttccag ctgatgtgcc ggcagcagaa 1440 aaacagccga agaaagcgca gaagcccaga ctcgtggctc accaggttga tgatgagcac 1500 tgggaagcct gggcgctggt ggaaggcgag gaggtggcca gggtgaaaat caagggcacc 1560 cgcgttgagg caatgacagc cgcatgggag gccagccaaa aggcactcga tgactaa 1617 Vibrio phage VP882 protelomerase amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 13) MSGESRQKVN LEELINELVE EVKTIDDNEA ITRSEKTKLI TRAATKFKTK LHDDKRRKDA 60 TRIALSTYRK YMTMARAAVT EQNWKHHSLE QQIERLAKKH PQYAEQLVAI GAMDNITELR 120 LAHRDLLKSI KDNDEAFEDI RSMKLDHEVM RHLTLPSAQK ARLAEEAAEA LTEKKTATVD 180 INYHELMAGV VELLTKKTKT VGSDSTYSFS RLALGIGLAT GRRSIEILKQ GEFKKVDEQR 240 LEFSGQAKKR GGADYSETYT IYTLVDSDLV LMALKNLREL PEVRALDEYD QLGEIKRNDA 300 INKRCAKTLN QTAKQFFGSD ERVFKDSRAI WARLAYELFF QRDPRWKKKD EDVFWQEMLG 360 HEDIETQKAY KQFKVDYSEP EQPVHKPGKF KSRAEALAAL DSNEDITTRS SMAKIHDWVK 420 ERIAEDPEAN ITQSLITREL GSGRKVIKDY LDLADDALAV VNTPVDDAVV EVPADVPAAE 480 KQPKKAQKPR LVAHQVDDEH WEAWALVEGE EVARVKIKGT RVEAMTAAWE ASQKALDD 538

TABLE H Escherichia coli bacteriophage N15 telomerase (telN) and secondary immunity repressor (cA) nucleic acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 14) catatgcact atatcatatc tcaattacgg aacatatcag cacacaattg cccattatac 60 gcgcgtataa tggactattg tgtgctgata aggagaacat aagcgcagaa caatatgtat 120 ctattccggt gttgtgttcc tttgttattc tgctattatg ttctcttata gtgtgacgaa 180 agcagcataa ttaatcgtca cttgttcttt gattgtgtta cgatatccag agacttagaa 240 acgggggaac cgggatgagc aaggtaaaaa tcggtgagtt gatcaacacg cttgtgaatg 300 aggtagaggc aattgatgcc tcagaccgcc cacaaggcga caaaacgaag agaattaaag 360 ccgcagccgc acggtataag aacgcgttat ttaatgataa aagaaagttc cgtgggaaag 420 gattgcagaa aagaataacc gcgaatactt ttaacgccta tatgagcagg gcaagaaagc 480 ggtttgatga taaattacat catagctttg ataaaaatat taataaatta tcggaaaagt 540 atcctcttta cagcgaagaa ttatcttcat ggctttctat gcctacggct aatattcgcc 600 agcacatgtc atcgttacaa tctaaattga aagaaataat gccgcttgcc gaagagttat 660 caaatgtaag aataggctct aaaggcagtg atgcaaaaat agcaagacta ataaaaaaat 720 atccagattg gagttttgct cttagtgatt taaacagtga tgattggaag gagcgccgtg 780 actatcttta taagttattc caacaaggct ctgcgttgtt agaagaacta caccagctca 840 aggtcaacca tgaggttctg taccatctgc agctaagccc tgcggagcgt acatctatac 900 agcaacgatg ggccgatgtt ctgcgcgaga agaagcgtaa tgttgtggtt attgactacc 960 caacatacat gcagtctatc tatgatattt tgaataatcc tgcgacttta tttagtttaa 1020 acactcgttc tggaatggca cctttggcct ttgctctggc tgcggtatca gggcgaagaa 1080 tgattgagat aatgtttcag ggtgaatttg ccgtttcagg aaagtatacg gttaatttct 1140 cagggcaagc taaaaaacgc tctgaagata aaagcgtaac cagaacgatt tatactttat 1200 gcgaagcaaa attattcgtt gaattattaa cagaattgcg ttcttgctct gctgcatctg 1260 atttcgatga ggttgttaaa ggatatggaa aggatgatac aaggtctgag aacggcagga 1320 taaatgctat tttagcaaaa gcatttaacc cttgggttaa atcatttttc ggcgatgacc 1380 gtcgtgttta taaagatagc cgcgctattt acgctcgcat cgcttatgag atgttcttcc 1440 gcgtcgatcc acggtggaaa aacgtcgacg aggatgtgtt cttcatggag attctcggac 1500 acgacgatga gaacacccag ctgcactata agcagttcaa gctggccaac ttctccagaa 1560 cctggcgacc tgaagttggg gatgaaaaca ccaggctggt ggctctgcag aaactggacg 1620 atgaaatgcc aggctttgcc agaggtgacg ctggcgtccg tctccatgaa accgttaagc 1680 agctggtgga gcaggaccca tcagcaaaaa taaccaacag cactctccgg gcctttaaat 1740 ttagcccgac gatgattagc cggtacctgg agtttgccgc tgatgcattg gggcagttcg 1800 ttggcgagaa cgggcagtgg cagctgaaga tagagacacc tgcaatcgtc ctgcctgatg 1860 aagaatccgt tgagaccatc gacgaaccgg atgatgagtc ccaagacgac gagctggatg 1920 aagatgaaat tgagctcgac gagggtggcg gcgatgaacc aaccgaagag gaagggccag 1980 aagaacatca gccaactgct ccaaaacccg tcttcaagcc tgcaaaaaat aacggggacg 2040 gaacgtacaa gatagagttc gaatacgatg gaaagcatta tgcctggtcc ggccccgccg 2100 atagccctat ggccgcaatg cgatccgcat gggaaacgta ctacagctaa aagaaaagcc 2160 accggtgtta atcggtggct tttttattga ggcctgtccc tacccatccc ctgcaaggga 2220 cggaaggatt aggcggaaac tgcagctgca actacggaca tcgccgeccc gactgcaggg 2280 acttccccgc gtaaagcggg gcttaaattc gggctggcca accctatttt tctgcaatcg 2340 ctggcgatgt tagtttcgtg gatagcgttt ccagcttttc aatggccagc tcaaaatgtg 2400 ctggcagcac cttctccagt tccgtatcaa tatcggtgat cggcagctct ccacaagaca 2460 tactccggcg accgccacga actacatcgc gcagcagctc ccgttcgtag acacgcatgt 2520 tgcccagagc cgtttctgca gccgttaata tccggcgcac gtcggcgatg attgccggga 2580 gatcatccac ggttattggg ttcggtgatg ggttcctgca ggcgcggcgg agagccatcc 2640 agacgccgct aacccatgcg ttacggtact gaaaactttg tgctatgtcg tttatcaggc 2700 ccgaagttct tctttctgcc gccagtccag tggttcaccg gcgttcctag gctcaggctc 2760 gacaaaagca tactcgccgt ttttccggat agctggcaga acctcgttcg tcacccactt 2820 gcggaaccgc caggctgtcg tcccctgttt caccgcgtcg cggcagcgga ggattatggt 2880 gtagagacca gattccgata ccacatttac ttccctggcc atccgatcaa gtttttgtgc 2940 ctcggttaaa ccgagggtca atttttcatc atgatccagc ttacgcaatg catcagaagg 3000 gttggctata ttcaatgcag cacagacatc cagcgccaca aaccacgggt caccaccgac 3060 aagaaccacc cgtatagggt ggctttcctg aaatgaaaag acggagagag ccttcattgc 3120 gcctccccgg atttcagctg ctcagaaagg gacagggagc agccgcgagc ttcctgcgtg 3180 agttcgcgcg cgacctgcag aagttccgca gcttcctgca aatacagcgt ggcctcataa 3240 ctggagatag tgcggtgagc agagcccaca agcgcttcaa cctgcagcag gcgttcctca 3300 atcgtctcca gcaggccctg ggcgtttaac tgaatctggt tcatgcgatc acctcgctga 3360 ccgggatacg ggctgacaga acgaggacaa aacggctggc gaactggcga cgagcttctc 3420 gctcggatga tgcaatggtg gaaaggcggt cgatatggga ttttttgtcc gtgcggacga 3480 cagctgcaaa tttgaatttg aacatggtat gcattcctat cttgtatagg gtgctaccac 3540 cagagttgag aatctctata ggggtggtag cccagacagg gttctcaaca ccggtacaag 3600 aagaaaccgg cccaaccgaa gttggcccca tctgagccac cataatccag gtatgcgcag 3660 atttaacaca caaaaaaaca cgctggcgcg tgttgtgcgc ttcttgccat tcggggttga 3720 gaggcccggc tgcagatttt gctgcagcgg ggtaactcta ccgccaaagc agaacgcacg 3780 tcaataattt aggtggatat ttcaccccgt gaccagtcac gtgcacaggt gtctttatag 3840 tttgctttac tgactgatca gaacctgatc agttattgga gtccggcaat ctcattgatg 3900 accgcagcca ccttagatgt tgtctcaaac cccatacggc cacgaatgag ccactggaac 3960 ggaatagtca gcaggtacag cggaacgaac cacaaacggt tcagacgctg ccagaacgtc 4020 gcatcacgac gttccatcca ttcggtattg tcgac 4055 Escherichia coli bacteriophage N15 telomerase amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 15) MSKVKIGELI NTLVNEVEAI DASDRPQGDK TKRIKAAAAR YKNALFNDKR KFRGKGLQKR 60 ITANTFNAYM SRARKRFDDK LHHSFDKNIN KLSEKYPLYS EELSSWLSNP TANIRQHMSS 120 LQSKLKEIMP LAEELSNVRI GSKGSDAKIA RLIKKYPDWS FALSDLNSDD WKERRDYLYK 180 LFQQGSALLE ELHQLKVNHE VLYHLQLSPA ERTSIQQRWA DVLREKKRNV VVIDYPTYMQ 240 SIYDILNNPA TLFSLNTRSG MAPLAFALAA VSGRRMIEIM FQGEFAVSGK YTVNFSGQAK 300 KRSEDKSVTR TIYTLCEAKL FVELLTELRS CSAASDFDEV VKGYGKDDTR SENGRINAIL 360 AKAFNPWVKS FFGDDRRVYK DSRAIYARIA YEMFFRVDPR WKNVDEDVFF MEILGHDDEN 420 TQLHYKQFKL ANFSRTWRPE VGDENTRLVA LQKLDDEMPG FARGDAGVRL HETVKQLVEQ 480 DPSAKITNST LRAFKFSPTM ISRYLEFAAD ALGQFVGENG QWQLKIETPA IVLPDEESVE 540 TIDEPDDESQ DDELDEDEIE LDEGGGDEPT EEEGPEEHQP TALKPVFKPA KNNGDGTYKI 600 EFEYDGKHYA WSGPADSPMA AMRSAWETYY S 631 

1.-19. (canceled)
 20. A process which is: (I) an in vitro cell-free process for production of a closed linear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) comprising: (a) contacting a DNA template comprising at least one protelomerase target sequence with at least one DNA polymerase in the presence of at least one species of primer, under conditions promoting amplification of said template, wherein the at least one species of primer is capable of binding specifically to a palindromic sequence within the at least one protelomerase target sequence and is capable of priming amplification in both directions; and (b) contacting amplified DNA produced in (a) with at least one protelomerase under conditions promoting production of closed linear DNA; (II) an in vitro cell-free process for amplification of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) comprising: contacting a DNA template comprising at least one protelomerase target sequence with at least one DNA polymerase in the presence of at least one species of primer, under conditions promoting amplification of said template by displacement of replicated strands through strand displacement replication of another strand, wherein the at least one species of primer is capable of binding specifically to a palindromic sequence within the at least one protelomerase target sequence and is capable of priming amplification in both directions; or (III) a process for making a pharmaceutical composition comprising a closed linear DNA molecule, said process comprising carrying out a process according to (I), and formulating the resulting closed linear DNA with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient.
 21. The process of claim 20 (I), wherein said DNA template is incubated under conditions promoting amplification of said template by displacement of replicated strands through strand displacement replication of another strand.
 22. The process of claim 20 (I), wherein said DNA polymerase is phi29 of SEQ ID NO:2 or a variant thereof and/or said protelomerase is bacteriophage N15 TelN of SEQ ID NO: 15 or a variant thereof.
 23. The process of claim 20 (I) or (II) wherein amplification of said template is carried out by rolling circle amplification (RCA).
 24. The process of claim 20 (I) or (II) where amplification of said template is performed in the presence of a single species of primer.
 25. The process of claim 20 (I) or (II), wherein said primer consists of a sequence selected from the following: SEQ ID NO: 30 CGCATATTACCT/CGA/TTAACACAC SEQ ID NO: 31 GCGTATAATGGA/GCT/AATTGTGTG SEQ ID NO: 32 GCGTATAATGG SEQ ID NO: 33 CCATTATACGC SEQ ID NO: 34 CACACAATA/TGC/TCCAT SEQ ID NO: 35 ATGGA/GCA/TATTGTGTG SEQ ID NO: 36 CGCATCATACGACTTTATCCA SEQ ID NO: 37 GCGTAGTATGCTGAAATAGGT SEQ ID NO: 38 CATATCATACGGCTACAATGTATACC SEQ ID NO: 39 GTATAGTATGCCGATGTTACATATGG SEQ ID NO: 40 TATATTAA/TAAAA/TT/AAATCAT SEQ ID NO: 41 ATATAATT/ATTTT/AA/TTTAGTA


26. The process of claim 20 (I) or (II), wherein the amplified DNA comprises concatamers comprising tandem units of DNA sequence amplified from said DNA template.
 27. The process of claim 26, wherein said concatamers are resolved into single units of amplified DNA sequence by said protelomerase.
 28. The process of claim 26, wherein said concatamers are resolved into single units of amplified DNA sequence by a restriction endonuclease.
 29. A composition of matter selected from the group consisting of: (I) a primer capable of specifically binding to a palindromic sequence within a protelomerase target sequence and priming amplification in both directions; and (II) a kit comprising at least one primer of (I) and at least one DNA polymerase.
 30. A composition of matter according to claim 29 (I) or (II), wherein said primer is an oligonucleotide of 6 to 50 nucleotides in length, optionally comprising a phosphorothioate linkage.
 31. A composition of matter according to claim 29 (I) or (II), wherein said primer binds specifically to only one half of said palindromic sequence.
 32. A composition of matter according to any one of claim 29 (I) or (II), wherein said primer is capable of binding to any one of the sequences of SEQ ID Nos: 25 to
 29. 33. A composition of matter according to claim 29 (I) or (II), wherein said primer consists of a sequence selected from the following: SEQ ID NO: 30 CGCATATTACCT/CGA/TTAACACAC SEQ ID NO: 31 GCGTATAATGGA/GCT/AATTGTGTG SEQ ID NO: 32 GCGTATAATGG SEQ ID NO: 33 CCATTATACGC SEQ ID NO: 34 CACACAATA/TGC/TCCAT SEQ ID NO: 35 ATGGA/GCA/TATTGTGTG SEQ ID NO: 36 CGCATCATACGACTTTATCCA SEQ ID NO: 37 GCGTAGTATGCTGAAATAGGT SEQ ID NO: 38 CATATCATACGGCTACAATGTATACC SEQ ID NO: 39 GTATAGTATGCCGATGTTACATATGG SEQ ID NO: 40 TATATTAA/TAAAA/TT/AAATCAT SEQ ID NO: 41 ATATAATT/ATTTT/AA/TTTAGTA


34. A composition of matter according to claim 29 (I) or (II) wherein: (a) said DNA polymerase is a strand-displacement type DNA polymerase; and/or (b) the kit further comprises at least one protelomerase and optionally instructions for use in an in vitro cell-free process for production of a closed linear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) comprising: (a) contacting a DNA template comprising at least one protelomerase target sequence with at least one DNA polymerase in the presence of at least one species of primer, under conditions promoting amplification of said template, wherein the at least one species of primer is capable of binding specifically to a palindromic sequence within the at least one protelomerase target sequence and is capable of priming amplification in both directions; and (b) contacting amplified DNA produced in (a) with at least one protelomerase under conditions promoting production of closed linear DNA.
 35. A method of inducing an immune response against an antigen in a host, said method comprising: carrying out an in vitro cell-free process for production of a closed linear deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) comprising: (a) contacting a DNA template encoding said antigen and comprising at least one protelomerase target sequence with at least one DNA polymerase in the presence of at least one species of primer, under conditions promoting amplification of said template, wherein the at least one species of primer is capable of binding specifically to a palindromic sequence within the at least one protelomerase target sequence and is capable of priming amplification in both directions; and (b) contacting amplified DNA produced in (a) with at least one protelomerase under conditions promoting production of closed linear DNA, and administering the resulting closed linear DNA encoding said antigen to said host in such a way that said antigen is expressed in said host and induces an immune response against said antigen. 